Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, bilateral knee, and acquired psychiatric disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a recurrent left knee disorder and assigned a 30% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of sufficient detail in the November 2014 VA examination report and because the Veteran terminated the examination after a confrontation with the examiner. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for additional action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the RO assigned appropriate disability ratings based on his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee instability and traumatic arthritis have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent, with no additional issues warranting higher ratings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right ankle disorders as secondary to a service-connected low back disorder. The claims are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his right foot disability, diagnose any current right knee and right hand disabilities, and provide a rationale for service connection determinations.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, his left knee osteoarthritis at 10 percent, and his MDD from December 6, 2007 to November 15, 2011 at 50 percent. Beginning November 16, 2011, the Veteran's MDD is rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be caused by his service-connected right knee disability, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and a need to consider findings regarding his service-connected left hip.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for further examination. The issues of higher initial ratings for his service-connected right knee disability, migraine headaches, left ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis are on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, cervical strain, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee, right elbow, right thumb, left thumb, or chest/rib disability for which service connection can be granted.,Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left ear hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, and right knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine current severity.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities, as well as whether his left knee disability was caused or aggravated by his right knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is not service connected as it was not incurred or aggravated during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The claims for hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability requires the use of a brace that causes wear and tear on his clothing. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran, granting an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his request. The issues include total disability rating based on individual unemployability, increased evaluation for left knee conditions, and an increase in the initial evaluation of limited flexion in the left knee.