Knee decisions — 2014

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of failed back syndrome as secondary to the right knee disability, finding no formal or informal claim prior to April 28, 1997.,The Board granted compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. §​ 1151 for atrophy of the right quadriceps and buttocks with an effective date of June 3, 1982.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for further development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular evaluation would be warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence, or because the conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a personal hearing, and no hearing has yet been conducted. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and new evidence presented by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as he did not have a current disability that meets the regulatory requirements to constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes. The Board found that his tinnitus claim must be remanded due to insufficient evidence of nexus between in-service noise exposure and current symptoms.

The Veteran's left-knee DJD is found to be secondary to his service-connected right-knee degenerative arthritis, and he is granted a higher initial disability rating for painful limitation of motion due to the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hand disorder, low back disorder, allergic rhinitis, and gastrointestinal disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his second period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and requests for treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional information is obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee ACL tear and finds that the Veteran's current low back and right knee disabilities are related to her service-connected left knee disorder. The claims for low back disability, right knee disability, and psoriasis have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing appropriate notice.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral leg disorders that are secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right ankle. The case has been remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for clarification on whether these conditions are related to his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by internal derangement and mild degenerative joint disease, does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 20 percent assigned for instability. A separate 10 percent rating is granted based on limitation of motion with arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of current back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The appellant's claims for service connection for headaches, neck disability, shoulder disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability are also being reviewed.

The Board found that a chronic knee disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty or a service-connected disability. Knee arthritis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and PTSD, but further development is needed as there are no competent clinical opinions linking these conditions to service. The Veteran reported filing for Social Security Administration benefits based on PTSD, which were denied twice.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee arthralgia and for further development to obtain any outstanding records pertinent to the claim.