Knee Board decisions

The Board found no credible evidence of a bilateral knee injury in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not manifest in service or for years thereafter, and is not shown to be related to his military service or to his service-connected left knee disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is service-connected, as it was caused by an injury sustained during INACDUTRA. The claims for bilateral knee disabilities and a chronic disorder of the left arm are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not increase in severity during his active duty service and concluded that it was not aggravated by such service. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not manifest during service and is not causally or etiologically related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability and assigned an initial evaluation. The claims for increased evaluations of his right elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since July 1, 2006. The current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal on restoration of a separate rating for a shortened right lower extremity was withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right femur fracture is denied. The current 30 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lagophthalmos of the left eye is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for arthritis of the right knee is denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves disagreement with the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected knee and foot disabilities. The RO is instructed to arrange for a VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions, obtain all outstanding records from the Durham VAMC, and provide the Veteran another opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for arthritis of multiple joints. The Veteran's current arthritic conditions are considered as likely due to disease or injury incurred in active service.

The Board denied service connection for depression, left knee disorder (other than chondromalacia patella), and right knee disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary in this case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as a need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher 30 percent rating is warranted. The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, with a 60 percent evaluation effective from March 1, 2004. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of moderate instability and severe pain and weakness, which warranted a separate 20 percent rating for lateral instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Bollinger and arranging a VA joints examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee arthritis did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.