Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's evaluations for degenerative changes, left knee and residuals, left knee injury have been restored to their previous levels.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, elbows, wrists and knees, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran did not have any evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorders, including advanced or severe degenerative arthritis of the left knee and a right total knee replacement, were not incurred in service. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are not related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, left knee disability, and PTSD were denied. The Board found no evidence of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the compensable evaluation for the service-connected left hand injury, Barrett's disease, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. He also withdrew his petitions to reopen the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and a left eye disorder (astigmatism).

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, manifested by postoperative residuals of cartilage damage, is likely due to an injury sustained during his period of inactive duty for training in March 1998.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability and issuance of a Statement of the Case on the left knee issue.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of extension, is currently rated at 30 percent. The RO has granted a separate 30 percent rating for this condition effective October 1, 2007.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for a right knee disability characterized as degenerative arthritis of the right knee with a total right knee replacement, finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder are not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and an increased rating for his left foot disability, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not etiologically related to service or his service-connected left ankle and calcaneal heel spur, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including limitation of flexion and lateral instability, is rated at 20 percent effective July 14, 2011.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities. However, the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has granted an evaluation of 30 percent for status post left tibia and fibula fracture with knee disability prior to March 11, 2008. The appellant's other claims have been addressed.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee and right hip conditions have been withdrawn. The claim for hepatitis C has been reopened due to new evidence, and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the loss of effective function, balance or propulsion of the right lower extremity other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the knee with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. There is no evidence of unfavorable complete ankylosis of the right knee, or complete ankylosis of two major joints of the right lower extremity, or shortening of the right lower extremity of three and one half inches or more, nor is there complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve and consequent foot drop.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his case is dismissed.