Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examination regarding his hepatitis C, right knee disability, and hepatitis B rating.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability due to any incident of his active duty service or due to a service-connected right knee disability. The preponderance of evidence reflects that the Veteran's current left knee disability is less than likely related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left tibia disability and arthritis of the right knee were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative right anterior cruciate ligament tear and residuals of semilunar cartilage removal, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the current evaluation does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has denied reopening the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders, right foot disorder, and residual lacerations of the arms and legs. The new evidence received does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and is now considering the case again, reopening it due to new evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and is granting service connection for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his already service-connected right hip and right leg disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine, right knee, and left shoulder conditions were denied by the Board.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for CUE in the November 1972 rating decision, finding that a 20 percent disability rating should have been assigned from August 10, 1972. The issue of an increased initial PTSD rating prior to November 21, 2013 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities has been denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for such a rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current right hip disorder and its relationship to his military service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if he indeed has a current right hip disorder and whether it is related to his active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disorder, and dry eye disability. The evidence received since the prior denial is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues on appeal include evaluations for various knee and hip conditions, as well as service connection for bilateral hip disability.

The Board has determined that the May 2007 rating decisions denying service connection for traumatic septal deviation residuals and septoplasty residuals, right thumb de Quervain's tendonitis, left thumb de Quervain's tendonitis, and a right knee disorder to include pain were clearly and unmistakably erroneous. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of stress fracture of the left leg, or any other claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.