Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as an enlarged heart. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current left foot, left knee, and left hip disabilities. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left and right knee disabilities. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised by the record.

The Board granted an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a left knee disability and also granted an earlier effective date than December 1, 1994, for the grant of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and left great toe disability were denied. The Board found that the arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, while the PTSD and left great toe disability met the criteria for a 50% rating before October 28, 2010.

The Veteran's current bilateral knee osteochondritis dessicans with resultant degenerative joint disease was not manifest in service or within one year of separation, is unrelated to any incident of service, and was not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative joint disease. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic low back strain with degenerative joint disease are not met.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected right knee disability was denied, as the evidence did not show an increase in severity warranting a higher rating. The left knee disability claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for anal fissure and allergic rhinitis have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, earlier effective dates for service connection for bipolar disorder and special monthly compensation by reason of being housebound, and TDIU are currently before the Board.

The Board has ordered another examination due to the inadequate opinions provided in previous examinations regarding the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as his service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left hip disorder, lumbosacral spine disability, and depression. The evidence received since the last denial was not considered sufficient to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disability was aggravated by his active service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his right knee disability.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, which is currently secondary to his left knee arthritis. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for left knee arthritis remains pending.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 16, 2006 for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for the service-connected loss of visual field due to diabetic retinopathy (eye disability) and restored the previously assigned 20 percent rating for the service-connected right knee medial collateral ligament reconstruction (right knee disability) effective on January 23, 2001.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, while his bilateral knee disability was not shown to be related to service. The Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was not permanently worsened during service.