Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis related to sinus, knee, back or acquired psychiatric disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders and review of the claims file.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was incurred during service and granted service connection. The initial increased ratings for PTSD and coronary artery disease are remanded as new examinations are needed to assess current severity.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current right knee disability or arthritis of the right knee, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Board will consider whether separate ratings may be assigned for different periods of time based on facts found.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's postoperative residuals of left knee injury with arthritis are etiologically related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, right upper extremity disability, and left upper extremity disability. The evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding insufficient evidence of current disability. The issue regarding reopening the claim for left knee disability is remanded.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the left knee disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service. The right ear hearing loss and right knee disability are not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current knee, back, and hip disabilities to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is not related to his service or any disease, injury, or event during service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and assigned a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's mid-back disorder is also service-connected, but the issues of bilateral ankle disorders and carpal tunnel syndrome are not addressed as they were remanded.

The Board has ordered additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee arthroplasty and associated follow-up care did not result in additional disability, and the Board found that there was no evidence of causation or fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, kidney disease, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the evidentiary record, including obtaining a decision from SSA regarding his disability benefits and preparing an SSOC.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability and determined that it is due to injury incurred in active or inactive duty for training. The right knee and left knee disabilities are also found to be related to such injuries.