Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and ensuring all requested actions have been completed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a low back disorder, but has determined that further development is needed before these issues can be decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is a result of injury or disease incurred in active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded the remaining issues to the RO for further evidentiary development, including providing the Veteran with VA examinations. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are still pending on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder. The Veteran's claim to reopen the previously denied psychiatric disorder was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is not granted as there is no credible evidence linking the condition to service or any other service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's right knee disorder was incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis is not presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum to the June 2011 opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service left knee injuries and his death, specifically whether these disabilities caused him to develop heart problems leading to his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's knee and neck disabilities are not related to his active service, but further examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple claims for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as a claim for TDIU. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision-making process.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for sinusitis and PTSD, but denied reopening of the claim for a left knee disability. The Veteran's new evidence does not provide sufficient medical opinion to establish a link between his current disabilities and military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown in service or within the first post-service year, and have not been linked to a disease or injury of service origin. Service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disorders with initial ratings of 10 percent each, effective June 2007. The Veteran's knees are currently evaluated as having noncompensable LOM.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of low back disorder, cervical strain, bilateral knee strain, and bilateral foot strain is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left shoulder, left knee, and stomach disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death, as his primary causes of death were an acute stroke and aspiration pneumonia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to inadequate development. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether the current left knee disorder is related to service, including any injury sustained in August 1966, and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic left or right knee disability in service and the Veteran's current knee disabilities are not related to his military service.