Knee decisions — 2012

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's private chiropractor and providing a VA examiner with an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed knee disability.

The Veteran's hypertension, hepatitis B, and hiatal hernia with GERD are all rated based on their respective diagnostic codes. The rating for hepatitis C is changed to align with the correct diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis. However, the claim for an increased rating for right knee osteoarthritis was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not causally or etiologically due to service, arthritis of the right knee did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and a current right knee disability is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee or ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current knee conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of an extraschedular evaluation. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors did not involve fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and thus could not be verified. The Veteran was denied service connection for PTSD, as there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and limited range of motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Veteran's military disability severance pay must be recouped from his VA disability compensation benefits due to a law enacted by Congress.

The Board found that the appellant did not have chronic knee disorders during his active duty periods and that any current knee disorders are not related to service. The upper gastrointestinal disorder is considered incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and low back disorders are not related to his service, specifically a motor vehicle accident in 2002. The bilateral knee and foot disorders have not been linked to any aspect of his service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back pain with arthritic changes was denied.,His claim for a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence due to right knee surgery was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to resultant helplessness.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 17, 2008 for the grant of service connection for right knee disability was denied as he did not file a formal or informal claim until April 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee arthritis and an increased evaluation for residuals of a torn ACL, finding no evidence of arthritis or impairment warranting any disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, addressing herbicide exposure claims, and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.