Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma in service. The knee disability claim was denied as there is no clear evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected right knee and left hip disorders was granted, effective September 26, 2006. The rating assigned is 70 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted it based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and systemic multiple joint arthralgia as the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis was not incurred in service and is not related to his right knee disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. ¶ 1151 for a left knee disorder was denied as his additional disability did not result from VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. His service connection claim for a left knee disorder was also denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition began during service or was caused by his service-connected spine disability.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his period of service from August 1942 to October 1945, and any other identified periods of service prior to June 1967 and/or from July 1972.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability and his active military service, including any injury sustained during his time in Vietnam. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have qualifying chronic disabilities characterized by symptoms of lumbar spine pain, gastrointestinal complaints, or sinus arrhythmia and cardiac murmur. The Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected right knee/thigh and scarring disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

Throughout the initial rating period on appeal, the Veteran's left knee disability was manifested by x-ray evidence of arthritis, with limitation of extension to 5 degrees and limitation of flexion to 90 degrees. The Board denied an increased evaluation as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded as additional medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the pending claims.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to determine the proximate cause of his disabilities and whether he is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, right and left knee disability, right and left ankle disability, and a left foot disability are all found to be related to service. The initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance was granted effective January 3, 2007. The condition arose from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of functional impact on employment.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a more thorough examination regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral shoulder disability, a bilateral foot disability, a bilateral ankle disability, and a right knee disability.