Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been manifested by occasional instability and giving away, complaints of pain and functional impairment comparable to limitation of left knee flexion to no less than 90 degrees and full left knee extension. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder bursitis and bilateral knee arthritis, as the previous VA examination did not provide sufficient etiological opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to missing STRs and incomplete medical records. The claim will be further developed to determine if her current right knee disability is related to her military service, including any injury during basic training.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,VA will need to arrange for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new VA examination of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has remanded the case due to an improper reliance on a September 2008 VA examination report, and the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities must be addressed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee with lower leg pain is being remanded due to incomplete development and need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise, and thus service connection for a right knee disability is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to her active service, including as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, blackouts, and shrapnel wounds in the right leg and knee were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to mustard gas or other conditions that could be presumed due to service. The claim for foot fungus is pending.

The Veteran's right hip greater trochanteric bursitis with degenerative joint disease and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The case is remanded for additional development regarding bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left knee disability that is causally or etiologically related to the Veteran's active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the current evaluations for his left knee disability do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to November 19, 2009, and in excess of 30 percent as of January 1, 2010, for a limitation of left knee extension. The Veteran is also denied a compensable evaluation prior to March 8, 2010, and in excess of 10 percent as of March 8, 2010, for a limitation of left knee flexion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted for his back, neck, right knee, left knee, or frostbite residuals.