Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability, right knee disability, or persistent cough for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for a disorder of the lumbar spine and right knee. This includes scheduling VA examinations, obtaining additional medical records, and considering all evidence added to the record since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to service, while his current right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions for the appellant's gout of the hands, left knee and feet, as well as his skin disability including lupus. The evaluation of degenerative joint disease of the right knee remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate range of motion assessment in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from performing the duties of gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and providing a VA examination to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's left leg and knee disorders.

The Veteran's low back and bilateral hip disabilities are not service-connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service. The Board finds that the current conditions are not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for her left knee disability, which was previously granted with a 10% rating from May 21, 2003. The RO has remanded the case due to incomplete VA records and need for additional examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for right knee disability. The preponderance of evidence showed that the left ankle disability did not result in marked limitation of motion, thus denying an increased rating. Regarding the right knee disability, the claim was decided on a direct basis without any indication of secondary or other theories.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for prostatitis, burn scars of the left knee, arthritis of the left knee, and diabetes mellitus. The February 2007 rating decision found no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disorder. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and verify the Veteran's statements regarding SSA disability benefits.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his service-connected right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus. The claim for hearing loss was not adjudicated as it was referred to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses was denied as VA did not provide prior authorization and the surgeries were deemed non-emergent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for at least five years from the date of his separation from service, and he did not meet the requirement of being a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.