Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that there is no current right elbow disability, and therefore service connection for a right elbow disorder was denied. The claims of bilateral knee disorders, bilateral ear disorders, and a right leg disorder were also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and left ankle disabilities were not initially manifested during service or within one year after separation from service, are not related to active service, and are not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as the preponderance of the evidence does not establish a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for skin moles, eye disorder, prostate disorder, bilateral flat feet, acne disorder, hepatitis A, low back disorder, vocal cord nodes, and bilateral knee disorder were all denied. The RO determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for hepatitis A, low back disorder, vocal cord nodes, and bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic lumbar strain, and right knee strain are currently under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of stressors and examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is found to be due to injury sustained during her active service, and thus granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination of his right knee and ankle disabilities. The case will be further adjudicated following completion of these actions.

The Board has denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of March 10, 2009, for the grant of death pension benefits with an aid and attendance allowance. The decision states that no award of death pension benefits prior to March 10, 2009 existed, and thus the March 10, 2009, date of claim is the correct effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional opinions regarding his right knee condition, TDIU claim, and automobile/adaptive equipment claim. The claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent for each knee prior to September 25, 2013 and in excess thereafter. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a Travel Board hearing as requested by the Veteran's representative.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right knee disorder that is attributable to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings for his service-connected left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right knee pain disability and there is no evidence of any chronic right knee condition in service. The VA examiner concluded the Veteran's right knee was essentially normal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for additional medical records.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a medical professional. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have not been manifested by flexion or extension limited to a degree that would warrant an increased rating. The current ratings of 10 percent are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.