Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of June 25, 1971 for the grant of service connection for residuals of anterior cruciate ligament injury of the left knee.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's other claims are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need for further examination.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current right or left knee disability related to service, and thus denied the appellant's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and SSA records.

The Veteran's right knee strain post patellar dislocation has been rated at 10 percent since June 23, 2011.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary for the claims of service connection for left knee and hip disabilities, as well as whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral calcaneal spurs of ankles, arthritis of hands, arthritis of feet, and degenerative joint disease of left knee. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development of his claims, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability or arthritis of the right knee that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claim for gout was not addressed as it falls outside the scope of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination records.

The Board finds that the appellant requires regular aid and attendance due to his nonservice-connected disabilities, including left below knee amputation and other physical impairments.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for examinations to assess his knee disabilities and depression.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic arthritis of the left knee was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations and records, as well as seeking private treatment records.

PTSD rating prior to November 19, 2010 was denied as the disability picture did not meet criteria for a higher rating.,PTSD rating from November 19, 2010 was granted at 70 percent effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations.