Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his knee and foot conditions, as well as claims for asthma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and blurred vision. The Board has requested a hearing on these matters.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 26, 2008 for the increased ratings assigned for limitation of extension and instability in the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disorder. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the denial of service connection for asbestos exposure and left knee infection during a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder, including post-operative residuals of a left knee meniscectomy and degenerative joint disease, is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened both claims and found that new and material evidence supports the reopening of these claims. The claim for service connection for a back disability is granted, as there is at least equipoise in favor of the appellant's contention that his current back disorder may be related to his period of service. The claim for service connection for the residuals of bilateral knee injury is also granted, with the examiner finding that there is a 50% or better probability that these conditions are etiologically related to his period of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing and disagreement with the denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, stomach disorder, and right arm disorder are all under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of the Veteran's service dates and obtaining his complete service treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for hyperlipidemia and for an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for hyperlipidemia and that the criteria for a higher evaluation were not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a determination of his current disability severity. The issues of entitlement to service connection for shoulder pain, knee pain, and leg pain are also pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; bilateral knee disorder; and PTSD are not supported by credible evidence and therefore have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of periods of active duty, ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. The Veteran's left knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left ankle conditions are all under review for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with service connection established for PTSD and TBI. Bilateral hearing loss and conjunctivitis were also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, arrange for VA examinations, and ensure that all due process requirements are met. The claims will be readjudicated after the completion of these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder in May 2004, finding no evidence of chronic disability during or within one year after service. The new and material evidence submitted since that time does not provide sufficient information to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's joint pains, including bilateral knee and shoulder pains, are found to be due to undiagnosed illness related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The claims for genital warts, herpes, shingles with residuals of nerve and joint pains, and broken ribs were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a connection to service.

The Veteran's recurrent left ankle sprain is caused by the neurological manifestations of his service-connected back disability, and thus he has a separate disability that is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected condition. The Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this left ankle disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, with no higher ratings warranted due to the lack of evidence supporting more severe limitations such as ankylosis or instability.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated in accordance with its manifestations, with a 50 percent rating prior to March 20, 2012 and no higher rating since that date.