Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA facilities, determining potential herbicide exposure outside Vietnam, scheduling VA examinations for right hand and knee disabilities, and a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities first manifested during active duty service, are related to his military service, and have persisted since then. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation for any portion of the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to further development of evidence being required. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather increased disability ratings for various knee and ankle conditions.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees and shoulders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected gastric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is pending further development.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have not been found to warrant higher evaluations, with the exception of a separate compensable evaluation for osteoarthritis prior to December 7, 2000.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for chondromalacia patella, and a separate 10 percent evaluation has been granted for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Veteran's right knee condition, despite some limitations in motion and pain, does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation as his range of motion is within normal limits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder during active duty and denied service connection for the appellant's claimed right knee disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and unspecified joint disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim, but did not determine whether service connection should be granted as the Veteran's right knee injury was deemed less likely than not aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and SSA disability benefits records. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed night sweats.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a colon and digestive disorder, recurrent tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's gout of multiple joints, left ankle, left wrist, right wrist, left elbow, right elbow, left hand, right hand, left foot, and right foot have been granted increased disability ratings since June 4, 2010. The bursitis of the right knee has also been granted an increased disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right thumb laceration, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with no additional rating granted for instability or arthritis. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.