Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and left hip disorders are not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder, thus denying both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by arthritis with painful but noncompensable limitation of motion, and her symptomatology of weakness, fatigue, guarding of movement, difficulty with weight bearing and recurrent episodes of effusion requiring a large hinge brace more nearly approximates the criteria for slight knee instability. The Board finds that a separate 10 percent rating for slight knee instability under DC 5257 has been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for both right and left knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left heel disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is now entitled to compensation based on this condition.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development of evidence and due process development, including scheduling a VA examination and arranging an informal telephone conference with the veteran's attorney. The Veteran is also advised that he must report for the scheduled VA examination or provide good cause for non-attendance.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion. The VA examiner found the Veteran has limited flexion to 75 degrees, with extension limited to 5 degrees.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-operative residuals of chondromalacia, has not resulted in any compensable limitation of motion since February 14, 2009.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease linking these conditions to her active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are currently rated as 10% disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not caused or aggravated by his in-service 1969 right knee injury and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 80 percent and preclude substantially gainful employment, allowing for the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for left knee degenerative joint disease, limitation of extension. The evaluation for limitation of flexion remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral knees and hips did not manifest within one year after service, is not related to any aspect of service or secondary to a service-connected left ankle fracture, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disorder, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The decision found that a sleep disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to any service-connected condition. For the knee disabilities, there were no service treatment records indicating such conditions during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not connected to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for gunshot wound multiple left forearm penetrating with foreign bodies was denied. His separate compensable disability rating for gunshot wound scars of the left forearm was granted, and his claim to reopen a service connection for left knee disability was reopened.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is found to be service-connected. The right wrist, forearm, and knee disabilities are not addressed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues.

The Veteran's anterior left knee discomfort with a lateral tilt of the patella is due to disease or injury that was incurred in active service.,Likely as not, the Veteran has hypertension that had its clinical onset during service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss must be denied by law.