Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that there was substantial compliance with the prior remand directives, but another remand is necessary due to new evidence and discrepancies in previous examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The Board also determined that it did not have its clinical onset within the first post-service year and arthritis of the right knee could not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement, finding all relevant evidence necessary to decide the Veteran's appeal regarding this issue has been obtained and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claim for service connection for left knee disorder is pending as there are no medical nexus opinions provided.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral knee fractures and residuals of bilateral ankle fractures, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain. The Board found that there was no current disability of the knees or ankles, and thus could not grant service connection. The claim for an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,New evidence has not been received to reopen previously denied claims of fibromyalgia, right knee disability, gastritis, vertigo with syncope, stomach ulcers, or a heart condition.

The Board has determined that the matter must be remanded for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and further analysis of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a cold injury and tinnitus, but denied the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and COPD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral knee or hip disability due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor is any current disability proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and an opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for disabilities of the knees and right ankle are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating claim for left ankle arthralgia is deferred until all pertinent evidence is assembled.

The Veteran's appeal of the right knee disability claim has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the right shoulder disability claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current disabilities of the right knee, right little finger, and/or right ankle. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for appropriate examination(s) and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, which is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, has been remanded due to the need for a Board hearing and consideration of additional evidence.

The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current left knee disability, including osteochondritis dissecans. The Veteran's pre-existing condition may have been aggravated by service or related to it.

The appellant's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on January 7, 2010 at Florida Hospital - Flagler were reimbursed due to the nature of his chest pain and shortness of breath which posed a serious threat to his health.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since June 1, 2005.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disorders, but further development is needed to adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied regarding a compensable rating for his fractured mandible. The issues of service connection for residuals of head trauma and right knee disability were also addressed, but the appeals are resolved as they have been granted elsewhere.