Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be rendered regarding the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee meniscectomy with arthritis. The case is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of jurisdiction as his claims have been granted in full by an August 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension, lumbosacral strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee osteoarthritis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent for hypertension prior to September 26, 2008 or for a rating higher than 10 percent for either knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back pain have been denied. The claim for PTSD has not yet been addressed due to the need for new evidence.

The medications the Veteran took for his service-connected disabilities, including pain medication and PTSD treatment, caused his death from small bowel obstruction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including amputation above the right knee and posttraumatic stress disorder, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and locating any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and foot disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a back disability or right knee disorder that was caused by service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination of his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right knee disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hip degenerative joint disease, and bilateral knee disability. However, it denied these claims as there was no evidence linking the current conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral foot, knee, and back disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide any outstanding medical records and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 60 percent rating effective March 19, 2015. The RO found that the residuals of his total left knee replacement met the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding a disability manifested by chest pain has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing this issue as it does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his active duty service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for his left knee disability is dismissed due to the absence of a controversy. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.