Knee decisions — 2013

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sexual dysfunction, headaches, fatigue, back pain, bilateral hip disabilities, knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, elbow disabilities, and left ankle disability. The appeals were reopened on new evidence but the claims were ultimately denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since March 2005, with a separate 20 percent rating for semilunar cartilage condition. The Board finds that the evidence supports these ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, has been reopened. The Board also remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back disability or left knee disability related to his active service and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss prior to January 17, 2012 were not service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining Army Reserve service records and verifying the appellant's period(s) of active duty. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left knee and left hip arthralgia, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected acquired left foot pes planus and chronic lumbosacral sprain. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, cervical spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches or a left knee disability, as her current conditions are not causally related to active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the retrieval of SSA disability records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not etiologically related to his active service, including any right knee injury therein or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have any residuals of shell fragment wounds (SFWs) of the right knee, right foot, right fourth finger or lower back during his period of service. Therefore, he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and residuals of a tibial stress fracture, has been rated at 10 percent since October 2008. The Board found that the current symptoms do not warrant an increase in rating due to slight knee disability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, review of new evidence, and compliance with procedural requirements.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to require regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that none of his claimed conditions are related to active service.