Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for shrapnel wounds to the right knee and left side of the chin, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between any of these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for sleep apnea, throat surgery residuals, and left knee disability prior to June 15, 2009 were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are reopened, but the Board is unable to grant any of his pending claims due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The VA examination and treatment records do not support a link between his current left knee condition and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. However, the right knee disability is not related to service.

The Board found the Veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his range of motion was from 0 degrees on extension to 85 degrees on flexion with no limitation of extension.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disorder and a higher rating for his right knee DJD, status post femur fracture. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis, post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA), has been rated at 30 percent since October 1, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for psychiatric disorder, back disorder, stomach disorder, and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was manifested by painful motion from June 30, 2005 to November 17, 2008 and a 10 percent rating was granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities have met the schedular criteria for TDIU throughout the pendency of this appeal, and therefore grants entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability was denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had limited range of motion in his right knee, but no other significant findings.

The Board found no current disabilities related to the Veteran's in-service injuries and denied his service connection claims for left thumb disability, right knee disability, and right leg neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to the Veterans Law Judge conducting his previous hearing no longer being available.

The Veteran's mitral valve stenosis and borderline left ventricular hypertrophy were incurred during active service.,Bilateral osteoarthritis of the hips, with left hip avascular necrosis, is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and adjudicating his claim of service connection for hypertension. He also needs to undergo a medical opinion regarding the likely etiology of his current end stage renal disease. His claims of service connection for a back disability and an increased rating for his knee disabilities are also pending.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.