Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The applications to reopen the claims for service connection for condyloma acuminatum (scarring of the genital area) and tinnitus have been granted, but not for hypertension with kidney transplant or low back disability.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for various knee disabilities, cervical spine fusion, and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease. The evidence submitted did not relate to the basis for the prior denial of these claims.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen and service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee disability is found to be related to his active service.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral knee disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (to include as due to undiagnosed illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1117), and left knee disability.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: 1) Issue corrective notice on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability which specifically addresses service connection on a secondary basis. 2) Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, a disability claimed as degenerative bone disease of the knees, and a disability claimed as degenerative bone disease of the ankles. The Veteran's current disabilities were not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple knee disabilities, including status post surgeries and replacements. The case is being remanded for further development to address the severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and entitlement to TDIU based on his left knee disability. The evidence considered did not show that these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it proximately due to or the result of a service-connected right knee and Achilles tendon disabilities. As such, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to her military service, thus denying her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability and tinnitus are not service-connected, and his combined rating does not meet the criteria for a TDIU. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various knee, elbow, back, ankle, and hand disabilities are granted.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral knee and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was withdrawn. The claims for PTSD, disabilities of the feet, and bilateral knee disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or service connection due to lack of verified stressors. Service connection for major depression was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The Board also found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is the result of aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active service.