Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including verification of the appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, based on the Veteran's combat experience in Vietnam. The claims for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and a skin rash are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his right knee disorder and breathing disorder. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty and arthritis of the knee was not manifested within the first post service year. The skin disorder claim is pending further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed, including consideration of clinical records from June 18, 2012, to December 7, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate disorder, left ankle disability, and left knee disability are not service-connected. The VA examiner concluded that the current disabilities of the prostate, left ankle, and left knee were unrelated to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and right hip disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims. The low back disability was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability claim is denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,The Veteran's abdomen disability does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation, as there are no current symptoms associated with this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities are not related to service, with the exception of a possible secondary relationship between his right hip arthritis and his right knee disability. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current right knee and left shoulder arthritis to his service, including any in-service injuries. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence added to his claims file. The issues include rating higher than 30 percent for a mood disorder, higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, higher than 10 percent for lateral instability of the right knee, and higher than 10 percent for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, affect his ability to move without assistance. As such, he meets the criteria for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are a result of or related to his active service. Service connection for these conditions is granted. The claim for left knee disability must be denied due to lack of competent evidence linking any current left knee disorder to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, depressive disorder with anxiety, and bilateral ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities due to undiagnosed illness or in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA orthopedic and psychiatric examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current low back, right hip and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the right tibia and fibula. The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent for the period from January 31, 2007 to January 23, 2011. The evidence did not show that his condition met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating.