Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a compensable rating or higher.

The Veteran's kidney removal was not due to service, and the low back disability does not warrant a higher rating.,The left knee disability is already rated at its highest possible level of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee traumatic arthritis and major depressive disorder, as well as his requests for an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status. The claim for automobile adaptation was also addressed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were denied by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis with residuals of a meniscal tear. The claims for left knee and low back disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor are they presumed to have been incurred therein. The current knee disabilities were first diagnosed many years after separation from service.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims regarding his bilateral knee disability and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and consideration of evidence submitted since the last decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Reserve service records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disability and hiatal hernia and GERD.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertion that his preexisting left knee disability increased in severity during service, and denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues of entitlement to service connection, higher initial ratings for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, remote right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and right shoulder disabilities. This includes verifying duty status during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods, obtaining VA examinations, and updating treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee arthritis with scar or left knee instability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, right knee. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis in his right knee is found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and the evidence received since the August 1998 rating decision is not new and material.