Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical nexus opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus caused or aggravated his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is rated at 60 percent effective April 1, 2007. The separate rating for left hip bursitis remains at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability, other than a scar, is less likely related to his in-service injury and more likely due to degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis. Service connection for this condition is therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, residuals of left pneumothorax with asthma and bronchitis, and defective vision. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his active service, including parachute jumps he experienced during his military service. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that his knee condition began in service and has persisted since then.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, right foot pes planus, left facial numbness, ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and right elbow and hand numbness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings, finding that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred was March 10, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach condition and left knee arthritis are denied. The claim for service connection for a left hand injury is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for right knee arthralgia and hypertension. However, the Veteran's current back disability and left leg disability are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The current diagnoses are attributed to non-service-connected conditions such as fibromyalgia.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability, finding that his current diagnoses are related to his active duty.

The Veteran's low back disorder and TBI residuals are service connected, while his left knee disabilities warrant increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations to determine if current prostate and left ankle disabilities are related to service or herbicide exposure, and adjudicating a petition to reopen a right knee disability claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for both his right and left knee disabilities. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran sustained injuries during parachute jumps in service, which led to continuous knee symptoms since then.

The Veteran's left knee strain, status post arthroscopic surgery, has been manifested by complaints of pain and normal range of motion. The disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA records and SSA disability benefits information. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and reviewing all relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the Veteran's right knee traumatic arthritis and residuals of a right knee meniscectomy, with both conditions rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right knee pain and instability incurred as a result of surgery performed at the Fort Meade VAMC on September 12, 2006, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee strain are among those that need further review.