Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has dismissed the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches. The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent effective August 1, 2007, but he disagrees with this effective date and seeks an earlier one.

The Board has reopened a previously denied claim of service connection for arthritis of the knees and granted it, based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new VA examination of his right knee. The Veteran also requested copies of his October 2007 VA examination report.

The case is being remanded to attempt to obtain SSA records and additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not currently decided.

The appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and retrieval of additional medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder. The claims of reopening service connection for hypertension and left ear hearing loss have also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder was aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. However, tinnitus was not found to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee condition, characterized by recurrent subluxation and lateral instability, is currently rated at 30 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the left knee is granted. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for skin moles, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, hypertension, and a disability resulting from asbestos exposure has been withdrawn.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his low back disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claimed left shoulder, left knee, and bilateral wrist disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied these claims as the evidence did not support a direct link to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left hip disability, right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are being considered.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left hip arthritis, right thigh scar (as a residual of a right knee gunshot wound), and right knee gunshot wound residuals were denied. The Veteran was not granted any additional disability evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for his service-connected right knee disability was not granted. The decision is based on the merits of the case and does not involve any presumption, secondary connection, aggravation, new and material evidence, or exposure to specific hazards.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative left patella-femoral pain syndrome and left knee instability have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with no additional compensable conditions found. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his eye disorder and right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hand pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee disability, lumbago (back disability), generalized anxiety disorder, pes planus of the right foot, and fatigue. The claims will be reviewed based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, or erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the criteria for reconsidering a prior denial of service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities have been met, granting the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran seeks a higher evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability. The RO denied an increased rating in September 2009 and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from September 29, 2009. The Veteran appealed this decision and the case is now remanded due to additional evidence being added to the claims file.