Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and proper VCAA notice regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the propriety of reducing the evaluation for hemorrhoids with secondary anemia, service connection for right knee sprain and residuals of right little finger fracture, and evaluation of thyroid nodule as the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decision was made on the merits of any claims.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right knee disability as there is no credible evidence of such conditions in service or since service. The Veteran's testimony regarding current symptoms was not found to be credible.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis is patellofemoral arthritis of the right knee, which is proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for various conditions. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee was granted with an effective date of May 13, 2005. The claim for piriformis syndrome was also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear condition, left knee condition, and prostate cancer. The denial is based on the lack of evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for myopia, cervical dysplasia, and right knee disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not shown to be associated with service, including as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including those involving undiagnosed illnesses, are not shown to be related to her active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities are not related to her military service, and thus denied her claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with chronic tear of the medial meniscus is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus is remanded for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to assess the cumulative effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability, given his level of education in nursing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, left knee, bilateral pes planus, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities. The effective date was not addressed as this is an original claim filed by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are not related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident during ACDUTRA. The VA examinations do not support a direct relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The other service-connected conditions are not entitled to higher ratings.