Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records since February 2010, SSA disability benefit determinations if applicable, and a VA examination for his left knee condition. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the left knee evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and increased the rating for duodenitis with pylorospasm to 20 percent, effective from the date of the May 1973 decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing another VA examination to address the etiology of his right hip and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development including obtaining updated treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The claim for reopening service connection is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions to address the Veteran's claims for various disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for more than slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and flexion and extension are not limited to compensable degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including chest pain, bilateral knee pain, and neck pain, are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and dental disorder. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral ankle disability or tinnitus, and the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection. The claim for a knee disability secondary to lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was not adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be the primary cause of his sleep disorder and chronic fatigue, which are granted as secondary to this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to clarify the opinion of the May 2013 VA examiner and to consider new evidence, including records from Lakeview Orthopaedics and Dr. Messieh.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an updated opinion regarding the etiology of his knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities had their onset during his period of honorable service from September 5, 2000, to September 4, 2004. Therefore, these conditions are considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an extraschedular rating, and his claim for TDIU is denied as he has not demonstrated that his service-connected conditions render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from North Island Medical Center. The case will be remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, and the Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with other issues. The case is therefore REMANDED to schedule a videoconference hearing before the undersigned VLJ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA outpatient treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current level of severity of his disabilities.