Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a left knee sprain and finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his current condition is related to active service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CMTD, right knee disability, bilateral shin splints, and left knee disability have been granted. The issues of reopening the claims for right knee disability and bilateral shin splints are also granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for entitlement to service connection for right knee and left knee disorders, effective May 17, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Board has decided that additional development of the evidence is required before deciding whether the Veteran's current left knee degenerative joint disease was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and restoration of his 40% rating for bilateral hearing loss as of March 1, 2013. The Veteran must provide additional evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.,Regarding the left hip condition, as there was no in-service injury or disease noted, and no competent medical evidence linking a current disability to service, the claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a Travel Board hearing. The issues on appeal include service connection for various knee disorders, PTSD, traumatic brain injury with headaches, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and instructed the RO to obtain these records for a full evaluation of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 16, 2011. The current rating is for noncompensable limitation of motion (flexion and extension) with painful motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability claimed as gout and initial compensable ratings for deviated septum with surgery and allergic rhinitis were denied. The Board finds that additional development is needed to address the remaining claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a VA addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, specifically addressing whether his pre-existing bilateral pes planus worsened in service and if his current knee and back disorders are related to his foot disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip, low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder, including seborrheic dermatitis, acne and tinea versicolor. The Veteran's sinusitis is found to be chronic and related to service.

The Veteran's right knee patellorfemoral joint syndrome was initially rated as noncompensable prior to February 24, 2012. After further development and examination, a compensable rating of 10 percent was assigned effective from February 24, 2012.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee internal derangement is currently rated at 10 percent, and hypertension is rated at 10 percent. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.