Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, left knee, and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have not been productive of limitation of motion to a degree that warrants an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left knee, right knee, or right foot disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is unable to determine if his stomach condition and hiatal hernia are related to military service due to lack of medical evidence. The right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and right knee strain claims have also been reopened, but the VA examination reports do not provide sufficient information on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability (Degenerative Joint Disease) and finds that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his military service. The claims of service connection for bilateral hip, ankle, and low back disabilities are also granted as direct service connection was established.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left ankle degenerative joint disease and service connection for left knee and hip disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his claims file. The RO will arrange for an examination by a VA physician to assess whether his service-connected disabilities, alone or in combination with any non-service connected conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, foot, and chest conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right hand disabilities. The decision is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied service connection for all three conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and providing a medical examination to determine if the appellant's current left knee disability is related to his active service.

The Board found that new evidence received since the August 1993 denial did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims and was cumulative. The claims for service connection for left knee disability and low back disability were therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracolumbar back strain, right varicose vein, right knee strain, and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity and manifestations of these disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but he contends for a higher rating. The claim is denied.,The Veteran also claims service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, which he asserts was caused by his service-connected left ankle disability. However, the evidence does not support this contention.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for his service-connected right knee injury with osteochondritis prior to April 21, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis since November 14, 2007. The Veteran's claims for service connection of COPD and asthma have been denied, as well as his claim for an increased initial evaluation for chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and consideration of new evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition was aggravated by his in-service injury, and thus service connection is granted.