Knee decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and skin disorders are not shown to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's right hip disability is found to be related to his service-connected right knee disabilities, and the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's previously-denied claims for left knee and back conditions had not been received. The claim for service connection for a back condition is reopened, but the other issues remain denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right hand and wrist disorder. The remaining issues have not yet been decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as medial meniscal tear, is reasonably shown to have had its onset during a period of Active Duty Training (ADT). Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for GERD and wishes to reopen his claim for left knee strain. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for an examination regarding GERD and issuance of a Statement of the Case on reopening left knee strain.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal in response to the July 20, 2007 SOC regarding her claims for higher initial ratings. As such, her appeals were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and providing a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities of the right lower extremity is 70 percent, which exceeds the maximum allowed by law. Therefore, no higher ratings are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA medical examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology. The right knee disability is also being remanded for a VA examination to assess its severity and whether it has lateral instability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date for pain in the shoulders, knees, and ankles was denied. The RO granted service connection based on new evidence but did not issue a final decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and readjudicating the claim based on all evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not increase in severity during service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip disorder. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran's death. The appellant must be provided with proper notice tailored to her claim for VA dependency and indemnity compensation, including a listing of previously service-connected disorders and the evidentiary requirements for service connection based on a condition not yet service connected.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability based on new and material evidence. The claim of secondary service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no medical evidence to support that the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected obstructive lung disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have significant residual symptoms from Bell's palsy, and his other conditions are not related to service.