Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his right knee disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), and alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and left wrist disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty did not result in additional disability due to VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and for TDIU. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current left knee disability was related to his period of service or to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether VA physicians should have diagnosed his left knee condition earlier and if such delay caused or aggravated his current disability.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his in-service injury and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to April 22, 2009 without considering his age and a non-service-connected condition (HSP).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records, and the claims will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and varus deformity, was rated at 10 percent prior to March 5, 2013. After a temporary 100% rating following TKA surgery on May 1, 2014, the current rating of 30% is maintained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for a new hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and adjudication due to incomplete medical records, conflicting opinions from VA examiners, and the need for further clarification of the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements regarding its onset during active duty are credible and supported by medical evidence. The remaining claims of service connection for knee disabilities and hearing loss will be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of his bilateral knee disabilities and whether they are related to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as there is no current diagnosed left knee disorder, and his service-connected left femur fracture with leg shortening does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, a right knee condition, and a left knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, including a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations associated with these conditions.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection based on the presumption in favor of Persian Gulf War veterans. The other issues have not yet been decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran was found to have no current left knee disability that is related to his active service, while his PTSD remains service-connected.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.