Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The claims will be remanded for such development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The issue of whether the Veteran's current left knee condition is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been presented. The Veteran's right hip, shoulder, sleep apnea, and knee conditions are still under review.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including instability of the knees, are currently evaluated at 10 percent each. The claims for increased evaluations have been denied as his flexion and instability do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and its secondary disabilities, including amputation of the left leg, based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active duty in Korea.

The Veteran's left elbow, left ring finger, skin, left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated as noncompensable or 10 percent prior to July 19, 2011. Effective July 19, 2011, the ratings for left elbow and left knee disabilities were increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of service connection were remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or left knee disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's post-operative degenerative joint disease of the right knee has been manifested by pain, tenderness, stiffness, fatigability, weakness, crepitus, guarding of movement, and some limitation of flexion. The disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability. The prior denials remain final.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at the RO.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg, which he claims was caused by a November 2006 VA podiatry treatment that resulted in infection and ultimately required an amputation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to her service-connected left ankle disability, and her headaches are related to active service. However, there is no evidence of a direct relationship between any other claimed disabilities and service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the upper extremities, right eye disability, cervical spine disability, headaches, and acne vulgaris. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of pulmonic systolic murmur, bilateral knee disorder, and back disorder. However, no new rating or effective date is assigned as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.