Knee Board decisions

The Board found no current disability related to the in-service stress fractures and denied service connection for right ankle/tibia, bilateral shin splints, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral thigh conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been manifested by no more than moderate knee impairment, and the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient development and the need for a statement of the case on his service connection claim and increase claim. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability will also be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied because there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of private treatment records.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for his right ankle bursitis or left ankle disorder, nor can it be determined if these conditions are secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right knee bursitis and limitation of extension were evaluated, with the latter receiving a separate evaluation. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for limitation of extension on and after February 20, 2010, but his claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee bursitis and prior to that date remains denied.

The Board found no current right knee disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and the obtaining of any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by severe instability and ligamentous injury, is rated at 30 percent prior to June 9, 2010. A separate rating of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are not manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremities, thus preventing an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis and a total knee replacement, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during active duty. The current condition is considered less likely as caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. The acquired psychiatric disorder is now considered secondary to service-connected disability, while the left knee disorder may be related to injuries sustained during service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity neurological disability and right lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neuropathy do not warrant a compensable or higher rating, respectively.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder, primarily diagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome and strain, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of chronicity since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing and issue a Statement of the Case for his claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right and left knee disabilities, including whether they are related to service exposure to cold weather.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral leg disorders, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disabilities. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.