Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the bilateral knees. The underlying de novo claim will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left total knee replacement is aggravated by his service-connected gunshot wound residuals of the left leg, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a right foot disorder and denied an increased rating for left knee injury. The Veteran's current claims were not supported by new and material evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, fatigue, generalized muscle/joint pain, gastrointestinal problems, an alcohol problem, and TDIU. The reduction of the disability rating for chondromalacia of the patellofemoral joint of the left knee from 20 percent to 10 percent was found proper.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury and right knee disability. The case will be remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a social and industrial survey.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability since June 29, 2009. The Veteran's condition was previously rated at 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a current right leg disability. The rating for limitation of extension and flexion of the right knee was increased.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it does not possess authority to award an extra-schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's report of experiencing a right knee injury during service and continuous symptomatology thereafter is not credible. The VA examiner’s medical opinion failing to link the Veteran's right knee disorder to service should be afforded probative value.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various elbow, shoulder, knee, hip, and low back disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the establishment of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a cervical spine disability. The claims were reopened based on new evidence received since the final denial of these conditions in 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is evaluated at a 30 percent rating, which reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Veteran has not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new joints examination and the provision of any missing VA medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding the issue of residuals of colonoscopy with polyp removal. The Board finds that service connection is not warranted for any of the other issues raised, as there is no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbar spine disability, service connection for seizure disorder, and reopening of right knee claim. The decision is final.