Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's request for an increased evaluation for post-operative residuals of left knee ACL reconstruction was denied. The claim for service connection for right knee arthritis, claimed as secondary to service-connected left knee disability, was also denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at enlistment. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between current knee problems and military service.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, right ear disability, or right knee disability in service. The appellant's complaints were not supported by medical evidence and the VA examination did not find any current disabilities related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is secondary to his service-connected status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold exposure and amputation of the right lower extremity below the knee, finding no evidence of such conditions related to military service.

The Board found that DJD of the left knee was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for left knee limitation of extension, a 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion, and denied increased ratings for post-operative residuals of left knee meniscectomy with instability and unstable left ankle associated with left knee meniscectomy. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding his right knee disorder and anxiety disorder. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for mechanical low back pain, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, migraine headaches, hypertension, and benign prostatic hypertrophy were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for spinal cord injury, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The Board finds that additional development is needed to clarify the status of his VA disability claim and to verify all periods of active and inactive duty for training in the United States Naval Reserve.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral knee disability (status post ACL repair) did not worsen during service and thus denied entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability (degenerative joint disease), and left knee disorder. The decision found that tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated in service and that a left knee disorder was not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee, status post total left knee arthroplasty, is etiologically related to an injury sustained in active service and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and denied an increased rating for headaches. The Veteran's left knee condition was not shown to be related to his military service, including his right knee disability. His headaches were rated at 30% prior to March 18, 2009, but the evidence showed they had become more frequent and severe since then.