Knee decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability, right wrist strain, right knee disability, staphylococcus infection, and left calf tear. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened, as no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the denial. Similarly, the claim for headache syndrome was also not reopened. However, the claim for a skin disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and will request them from the Veteran. The claims for service connection for right knee and right shin conditions will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining VA and Vet Center treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his back and knee disabilities, and scheduling another VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is connected to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issues of asthma and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee condition due to new and material evidence, but denied the right eye condition as not related to service.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disability. The right eye condition (glaucoma) is not found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service connected, but her left knee condition cannot be linked to active duty.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, including whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any found right hip, bilateral knee, and back disability. The Veteran's service connection claims are also being remanded due to his claim of entitlement to a rating in excess 30 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease.

The Board found no evidence of hemorrhoids during service and denied the Veteran's claims for arthritis, left knee pain, plantar bone spurs, right thumb disability, and little finger or third finger disability. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability are related to his active duty service. As a result, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for scars, residuals of an injury to the face and teeth, scars, residuals of a left knee shell fragment wound, and scar of the back of the head. The evidence received since the final denial suggests that the Veteran may have been treated during service for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for LGV, service connection for hypertension, and bilateral knee disability are all denied.,There is no evidence of any service-connected condition that caused or aggravated the Veteran's current hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the right knee instability rated at 10 percent and the cervical osteoarthritis rated at 20 percent. The diabetes mellitus claim was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and instability, has not met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service or caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and bilateral knee DJD, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability or due to an incident involving a 55-gallon drum rolling over him during service.