Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased evaluation of his back disability and right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is presumed to have been incurred during active military service due to herbicide exposure. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his right knee disability claim and denied all other issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA compensation examinations to determine if the Veteran has current disabilities related to his period of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right hip conditions are not secondary to his service-connected right knee condition, and thus denied these claims. The issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension, hemorrhoids, and hiatal hernia were granted service connection with initial noncompensable ratings. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine and left knee disorders are remanded to obtain appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected anterior left knee pain syndrome is granted, but the initial rating remains at noncompensable (0%) level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his right knee instability rating, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original decision.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and degenerative changes, is rated at 30% from December 21, 2007 onwards.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee arthritis and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to his service due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's left knee disorder is not shown to have started in service, but the VA examiner opined it was not caused by service. The Veteran's heart condition is presumed as a result of his Vietnam service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-service bilateral knee disorder was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for a current bilateral knee disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability in service and concluded that the Veteran's current left knee arthritis is more likely due to natural aging and use rather than an injury or event during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions, including right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, multilevel spinal degenerative disc disease, and bilateral knee arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered based on the results of this examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are permanently aggravated by her service-connected left knee disorder, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and bilateral foot disability, finding no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that this rating was appropriate based on his symptoms and limitations. The appeal for a higher initial evaluation was denied.