Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to missing personnel records and inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding his service and current condition. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is now pending.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee disorder in service or for many years thereafter, and the appellant's assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology were deemed not credible. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee scar, arthritis of the pelvic bones, and shin splints were denied. The Board found that there was no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities are related to his active service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder arthritis and right knee pain do not warrant a disability rating higher than 10 percent, as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or other disabling pathology beyond what is contemplated by the current 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for a separate evaluation of radiculopathy in the right lower extremity as secondary to lumbar spine disability is denied. The earliest medical evidence showing a diagnosis of radiculopathy was from March 2007, and an increase in disability associated with this condition prior to August 3, 2006 could not be factually ascertainable.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death from a motorcycle accident. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a Travel Board hearing at the Muskogee, Oklahoma RO due to the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's inability to appear for a previously scheduled hearing and requests for rescheduling. The claims are now pending before the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected left knee, left hip, and low back disabilities. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability or psychiatric disability related to service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Osgood-Schlatter disease of the right tibia was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent. A separate 10 percent rating was also granted for his right knee lateral instability and/or current subluxation.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that a bilateral knee disability was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor is it secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge, and further development may be required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus of the right foot, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left chronic knee disability, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine as secondary to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee was denied. The evidence showed that prior to June 27, 2011, his symptoms included painful motion and after that date, he could stand for 50 minutes, walk for 20-30 minutes, and sit for an hour.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including his right total knee arthroplasty from August 1, 2011, were granted increased ratings.