Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient time provided for response and additional development of the claims file.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability and residuals of septal deviation repair have been granted with appropriate ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing notice regarding personal assault claims and associating medical records. A clarifying opinion from a VA psychiatrist on the question of whether any currently manifested psychiatric disorder first manifested during active service or is related to event(s) during active service will also be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for instability associated with chondromalacia of the right and left knees were denied as there was no evidence of instability during VA examinations or treatment, and the weight of the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, and tendonitis of the left thumb were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions during the pendency of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury that caused these conditions. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding records and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee injury, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation or service connection for his right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination and additional development of the record.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn, thus these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's seronegative rheumatoid arthritis has not been active, and his current joint pains are attributable to non-service connected causes.,PTSD is manifested by flattened affect, impairment of short-term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee scar, and GERD were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities that would warrant a grant of service connection or an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, provide the Veteran with an opportunity to identify his in-service stressors, and schedule him for VA examinations to address the etiology of his left knee disability, gastrointestinal disability, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and congestive heart failure were denied as service connection was not established.,Service connection for degenerative disease of the left knee and mild degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine (secondary to left knee) have been granted.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for the service-connected DJD of the left knee from 50 percent to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2009, was proper.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and assistance of others for dressing, undressing and sometimes bathing. As a result, SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.