Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed in 1992, within two years of service discharge. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on the continuity of symptomatology and reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.

The Veteran's gout was productive of active process with constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement that was totally incapacitating during the period on appeal, warranting a maximum 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the right knee, including consideration of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a prior rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a new VA examination. The issues of service connection for a right knee disability and entitlement to SMC are being addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hip or knee disabilities and finds no evidence to support service connection for these conditions. The VA examiner's opinion was given significant weight in reaching this conclusion.

The Veteran's left total hip infection and right below the knee amputation are deemed to be due to VA surgical and medical treatment from May 2006 to August 2006, meeting the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's chronic rash was incurred as a result of VA surgical or medical treatment.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's arthritis of the knees and shoulders is related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board denied presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, a left knee disability, and a gastrointestinal disorder (GERD) have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence/aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted as his combined service-connected disability rating is sufficient to meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he is unemployable due to his right knee disability.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his knees. The claims will be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee, right ankle, left knee, or left ankle disorder and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange a hearing at the RO nearest her residence. The issues of entitlement to higher initial disability ratings for limited motion of the right knee and right knee instability are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain relevant medical records. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or stressors sufficient to establish service connection.