Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and right great toe arthritis, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a right or left knee disorder, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, but further development is needed before these claims can be decided. The Veteran needs to undergo another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a back disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral Osgood-Schlatter Disease and denied his claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied. The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disability and the VA examination did not reveal any such disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss in the left ear are found to be related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor. The right knee disability is not currently shown as a separate condition from the left knee disability or back disability.

The Veteran's left leg above the knee amputation was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, which aggravated his pre-existing peripheral vascular disease (PVD). As such, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and issuing a statement of the case regarding his knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee disability (to include arthritis), or lower back disability. The preponderance of evidence is against finding service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The claim is also referred back to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in June 2013. The case will be reviewed and readjudicated after obtaining any necessary medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, eye disability (refractive error), right and left knee patellar tendonitis, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and left hip degenerative joint disease. The decision found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder to service and denied her claim for service connection. The TDIU claim was also denied as there were no service-connected disabilities rated at least 40% combined that met the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in the November 2006 rating decision. New and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.,Service connection for left knee chondromalacia is granted, with increased ratings for instability.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the left knee instability, effective from November 1, 2007. The earlier effective date of July 12, 2009 is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder and right knee disability.

The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for degenerative changes of the left AC joint.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for chondromalacia patella of the right knee.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for chondromalacia patella of the left knee.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for a right calcaneal spur.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for a left calcaneal spur.,The Veteran is granted an initial compensable rating for headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for ED, hemorrhoids, or hypothyroidism.