Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions and SSA records, as well as to clarify whether service connection is warranted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by active duty. The major depressive disorder remains at a 70% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee with small effusions and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective December 30, 2011. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Veteran's current respiratory disorder, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new hearing. The issues are to determine if the Veteran should receive increased disability ratings for her knee conditions and whether she can establish service connection for her cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been evaluated, but the current ratings do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip disability and therefore, service connection for bilateral hip disability is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability and lumbar spine disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability, which he claims is related to his in-service aircraft maintenance duties. The case has been remanded due to the need to locate and submit SSA records, as well as reschedule the Veteran's hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and will attempt to obtain additional evidence before deciding the claims.

The Board has determined that the service-connected sideroblastic anemia with hemochromatosis contributed to the Veteran's death, and thus grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and correct VCAA notice, as well as to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for his right knee disability, as well as the issue of entitlement to TDIU based on his right knee disability, are being remanded due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and whether it has been aggravated by that condition. The examiner must also provide an opinion on the etiology of any found right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral leg disability, claimed as legs giving out, is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral leg disability other than osteoarthritis of the right knee. Service connection cannot be granted because there is no evidence showing that her lower extremities gave way in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a left knee condition, finding that there is no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that the hearing before a Veterans Law Judge should be rescheduled due to the hearing officer's retirement and the appellant's request for a new hearing. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as chondrocalcinosis of articular cartilage and menisci compatible with a diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate deposition disease (CPPD) arthropathy, does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee tripartite patella is a congenital defect and not subject to service connection.,Gout of the knees was not related to military service.