Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's and his service comrades' accounts of a left knee injury during ACDUTRA in 1978 were not credible, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent from September 26, 2001 to October 5, 2009. Since December 1, 2010, he is in receipt of a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected left knee DJD with cartilage dysfunction and lumbosacral strain have been granted, but the claims are denied as he does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on instability or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development of his left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year after separation from service. The VA examiner opined that any current knee disabilities were more likely related to post-service employment rather than service.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have been incurred in service, and the other claims for service connection were granted.

The Board has determined that residuals of a right knee injury, status-post medial meniscectomy and patelloplasty, with post-traumatic degenerative arthritis, had its onset in service. The Veteran's current surgical scar is also found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as he does not have a current disability. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all considered under the direct theory of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is etiologically related to her active service, and thus grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 20, 2007, for the award of service connection for internal derangement, left knee, status post surgical repair of the cruciate ligaments with degenerative joint disease was denied as his original claim in 1994 was deemed abandoned.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding no credible evidence linking any of the conditions to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be made on the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The case is therefore REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, provide the Veteran with VA examinations, and adjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development, including determining the Veteran's duty status between August 23, 1971 and December 31, 1972. The case will be returned to the Board after this information is obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.,Specifically, the Board found no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis or tendinopathy in service and concluded that these conditions did not start during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to need for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disorder or testicular condition in service, and the Veteran did not experience continuous symptoms after service. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a connection between any current disorders and service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg/knee disability and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not etiologically related to his period of active service or service-connected pes planus. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected condition prevents him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.,The Board determined that the Veteran's subjective symptoms of knee pain are not attributable to an event during active service, nor do they constitute additional impairment due to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee strain with degenerative disc disease and cervical spine disc disease are service-connected, as they are related to his in-service injuries. His allergic rhinitis is also service-connected.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, but she is not found to be unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and requesting additional medical records. The claim will be reconsidered on the merits.