Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability.,VA examinations have consistently found no current right knee or right hip conditions related to service.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's right knee disability existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no evidence of ankylosis or instability warranting higher ratings. The current functional impairment does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran has a low back disability, bronchitis, or sleep apnea disability that are etiologically related to service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claim is denied in its entirety regarding an increased evaluation for the left knee.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee and lumbar spine disabilities are less likely as not related to service, based on the January 2008 VA examination report.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pilonidal cyst, and initial increased ratings for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new disability rating or effective date.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including recurrent subluxation or instability associated with postoperative residuals of left medial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate rating for limitation of extension was granted.

The Veteran's joint pain is attributed to known clinical diagnoses, not due to an undiagnosed illness or service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury with memory loss and right knee disability. However, the claim for service connection remains denied as there is no clear or unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence of these conditions, and the evidence does not show they were aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher than 10 percent rating for DJD of the right knee, an initial compensable rating for postoperative scar of the right knee from June 26, 2003 to June 27, 2004, and a higher than 10 percent rating for postoperative scar of the right knee since June 28, 2004.

The Veteran's left leg, knee, and hip pain were not caused by his November 2002 hydrocelectomy. The Board finds the opinion of the May 2012 VA examiner to be more probative than that of the March 2003 emergency room physician.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability related to service or any incident therein, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were rated at 30 percent prior to the April 2005 examination. After a review of his symptoms, including severe pain and weakness, the VA determined that he should be granted increased evaluations of 60 percent for each knee disability from February 1, 2005 until December 3, 2006.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The left knee condition is not addressed as it does not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration, including obtaining service personnel records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues on appeal are whether he is entitled to a temporary total rating based upon convalescence from March 2008 cervical spine surgery, and whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, chronic mild low back pain, and skin cancer of the face, right ear, and arms (to include as due to exposure to chemical dioxins). The appeals are based on secondary service connection.