Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further development regarding duty status during a qualifying period of service. The appellant's claims for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities will be reviewed based on her alleged injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent disabling based on X-ray evidence of arthritis with limited and painful motion. The current rating is appropriate as there is no evidence showing the Veteran's disorder warrants a higher rating under any of the previously explained DCs.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral shin splints, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are due to his military service.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's metatarsalgia of the bilateral feet.

The Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for chronic ear infections and sinusitis. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of his right and left knees are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further development and examination regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is permanently aggravated by his service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder are related to his service-connected left tibial tuberosity fracture and left knee instability. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's minimal small vessel periventricular ischemic white matter disease, chronic headache disorder, hypertension, tinnitus of the right ear, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, fungus of the feet, facial cyst, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right arm disorder were not incurred in service or related to service.,The Veteran's periods of active service did not include a qualifying period for VA benefits.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records, SSA records, and private medical records. The Veteran will be provided a new VA examination for his right knee disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since January 26, 2005. The claim for an increased rating was granted, but the hearing loss claim remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the right leg or knee, and his left leg and knee conditions are already service-connected. Therefore, he is denied these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and knee conditions is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability and knee condition that are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his service, and thus denies service connection for a right knee disability. The claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability remains pending as there was no determination on this issue in the decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's private physician provided an opinion linking his left knee disability to his service-connected right knee disability, which is sufficient to meet the threshold of 'new' evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistent medical opinions and a need for additional development of the Veteran's claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.