Knee decisions — 2014

The Board finds that arthritis of the left knee is etiologically related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to additional development needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, lower back disability, and left knee disability. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these disabilities are related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders are secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and weakness but not limited flexion or extension beyond the specified criteria, does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities have been granted. However, the initial compensable ratings requested for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain duty status verification during INACDUTRA in June and July 2009, provide an additional VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding his right wrist, bilateral knee, osteoarthritis, and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia), and left knee disability were granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective from the date of claim.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disease, and to obtain outstanding VA clinical records from the New Mexico medical center.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee strain from December 18, 2012 was denied. The case is remanded for additional development of VA treatment records and to obtain any relevant private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the right knee claim and concluding that the left knee disability is not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service and are not related to his service-connected tinnitus. The claims for right and left knee conditions have been remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including ratings for various disabilities and the effective dates of service connection. The case is being remanded due to a need for a Board hearing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and sleep apnea, but has remanded them for further development.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of medial meniscus tear of the right knee were found to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's left knee disability and muscle tension headaches have been evaluated at the 10% level throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.