Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, hammertoes of both feet, and hallux valgus of both feet. The decision also denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected right wrist and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected epididymitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, meniscal injury and joint effusion, is currently rated at 30 percent for lateral instability. He also has separate ratings for arthritis with pain and limited motion.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection were adjudicated. The Board granted service connection for instability of the right knee with a rating of 30 percent, effective from March 31, 2008 (the date of the grant to reopen), but denied his request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the lower extremities, to include feet, legs and knees, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his right knee disability does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as hypertension. The evidence did not show a chronic right or left knee disorder in service or that any current knee disability is related to service.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the appellant's current left knee degenerative arthritis is attributable to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder and knee disorder are service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of a claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for initial review of the newly submitted evidence regarding service connection for peripheral vascular disease and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected cartilage defect of the right knee with arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since May 31, 2003. The appeal for a higher evaluation remains before the Board. Service connection for headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, bilateral foot disability, and various knee disabilities were denied. The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine and right and left knees are rated as 10% since August 17, 2007 and October 25, 2005 respectively. The Veteran's right leg and left leg disabilities do not meet criteria for a compensable initial disability rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee disability is found to be proximately caused by his service-connected right knee disability, thus granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are rated at the minimum level of disability, and his secondary claims for shoulder and lumbar spine disorders have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities were denied as the current evaluations are considered adequate given the severity of his symptoms and the applicable rating criteria.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Board found no credible evidence of a left knee disability that is causally related to service or that arthritis of the left knee manifested within one year post-service. The Veteran's current left knee disorders are attributed to his in-service fall and subsequent surgeries, with the examiner finding it less likely than not that any of these problems were related to the 1963 in-service injury.