Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder with psychotic features, sleep apnea, migraines, lumbar spine degenerative changes, right knee injuries, and hypertension, render him housebound or in need of aid and attendance. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia patella are found to have pre-existed service but were aggravated by military service, warranting service connection.,There is a strong correlation between the Veteran's pes planus and his low back disability. The Board finds that this low back disability may be considered secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the combined effect of his service-connected right knee disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear pain, leukoplakia, GERD, bruxism, left knee disability, impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, cervical spine DJD, lumbar spine DJD, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition or link to service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for right shoulder tendinopathy with retained shrapnel and chondromalacia patella of the right knee are being remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from Cushing's Syndrome and her other claimed disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee is being remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee arthritis is as likely as not due to an injury sustained during his military service.

The Board has found that traumatic arthritis of the right foot, status post motor vehicle accident, did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, it is not presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limitation of flexion, was granted an increased evaluation to 10 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation for a tender/painful surgical scar was also granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of right knee disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and leg disabilities, including arthritis and DVT of the legs, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a connection between his military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee was manifested by subjective symptoms and objective evidence, but did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to April 26, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or at any point after service. The current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims of falls due to service-connected low back disability are not credible and there is no indication, evidence or contention that her left knee disability began during service, is related to any incident of service, or apart from her claimed post-service falls, is otherwise caused by her service-connected right knee and low back disabilities. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left knee disability is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to his service-connected right foot disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.