Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, muscle fatigue, headaches, skin rash, and problems taking deep breaths, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the specific issues related to his left knee disability being addressed. The Veteran was awarded a higher rating for his residuals of partial meniscectomy and arthritis, but not for his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he had died before the Board could make a decision on his claim for an increased evaluation for left knee arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome prior to October 4, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and did not find a presumption of service connection due to exposure. The right knee and ankle disorders were not shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's right knee injury has been rated as 10% disabling since October 21, 2006, with no evidence showing it warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the receipt of relevant evidence after a supplemental statement of the case was issued.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for limitation of extension of the right knee from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, as there is no evidence showing the Veteran's knee had extension limited to 10 degrees or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability and did not address the secondary service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating for L5-S1 degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and foot disorders. As a result, these issues are dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination of the Veteran's right knee and lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated as noncompensable since March 4, 2006. The RO has continued these ratings despite the Veteran's complaints of pain and functional loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder. The underlying claims for right knee disorder and TDIU are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, and effective dates of September 5, 2006, were assigned for the left knee condition and right superior eyelid ptosis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a new opinion regarding the etiology of his right knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that these conditions are proximately due to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and bilateral cataracts, but denied them on their merits. The Veteran's other claims were not addressed as they are pending in remand.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating were denied. The effective dates of the service connection awards remain at November 8, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for nosebleeds (epistaxis) on a secondary basis. The right knee and left shoulder disabilities are pending as the etiology is unclear without resort to mere speculation.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the TDIU determination, including needing clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to prevent him from gainful employment. Additional development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.