Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders and frostbite residuals of the nipples and toes, were denied as there is no competent evidence of current disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disabilities, including a torn meniscus and degenerative disc disease, are not related to his service. The claim for a compensable evaluation for a scar of the medial right knee was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has ordered additional development due to missing evidence, including the Veteran's DD214 and service treatment records. The appeal will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a right knee condition has been remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the rating of residuals of benign giant cell tumor in the left popliteal area, post-operative arthrotomy, arthroscopy, synovectomy, and total knee arthroplasty with osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral joint syndromes were granted separate compensable ratings for painful limitation of motion due to arthritis. The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD was granted a non-compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right or left knee condition related to his military service and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted initial compensable ratings, with the exception of his cervical spine disability which has not met the criteria for a higher rating since December 29, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, it granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with sleep and memory problems.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected conditions have been granted and are set at 10 percent each, effective the day after his discharge from active service in April 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a left knee disability. The current conditions are related to in-service injuries or exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective October 28, 2003. The earliest date of entitlement to TDIU is more than one year prior to the date of claim.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis/osteoarthritis of the right knee.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for proximal tibial stress fractures of the left knee with osteoarthritis is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability is not shown to have caused or aggravated his current knee disorders. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to his service-connected right hip disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is not related to his time in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to engage in substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after all development.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's right knee disability, finding that it is directly related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.