Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip and knee disorders are at least as likely as not caused by his military service, including his extended periods of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected paralysis of the left external popliteal nerve. The claim for residuals of pneumothorax, to include COPD is being reopened and will be addressed on remand.

The Board has determined that the current evidence is inadequate to determine whether the appellant is permanently and totally disabled, necessitating further examination. The case is therefore being remanded for additional development.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal on these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations for her shoulder and knee disorders, as well as any mental health issues. The claims are being remanded to allow for these examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the right knee status post medial meniscectomy was granted effective from November 30, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and their relationship to any low back and hip pathology.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The Board also determined that there was no relationship between the service-connected right knee disability and the claimed left knee disability, based on either causation or aggravation.

The case is being remanded for further development due to inadequacies in the record and noncompliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance in purchasing specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lack of anatomical loss or use of either lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right knee disability (status post right arthroplasty), and left knee disability are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected right patella injury with traumatic arthritis. His post operative residuals, injury of the right patella with traumatic arthritis, are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further action consistent with a joint motion to vacate and remand the decision due to an inconsistency in the VA examiner's opinions regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition during service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected as it did not arise during active duty and is not linked to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The right knee osteoarthritis is considered secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran is also granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right and left knee chondromalacia.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and found that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his in-service injury. The claim of service connection for bilateral knee disorders was not addressed on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination for his left knee disorder, deviated septum, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and adjudicating his claim of service connection for a heart disorder.