Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The effective date of service connection for PTSD was granted on August 23, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to wear and tear caused by back braces and left knee braces have been denied as the Veteran is not service connected for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back or left knee disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no causal nexus between the claimed in-service stressor and his current psychiatric symptoms.,His left knee disability has been rated at 50% based on chronic pain and slight instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and knee disabilities are not service-connected.,The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between the current low back and knee conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee and ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that her conditions warranted higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, left hip disability, and right knee disability have all been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, left knee, and hemorrhoid disabilities are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for increased ratings were not granted. The RO continued the 10 percent evaluation for postoperative residuals of left tibial plateau fracture and assigned new disability ratings for left knee subluxation, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide him with a Board hearing at his current address. The issues on appeal include the initial rating for scars, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral pes planus, scar above the right eyebrow, and allergic rhinitis were not found to warrant higher ratings. The Veteran's patellofemoral pain syndrome with synovitis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA joints examination to determine if any diagnosed back or knee condition is related to service or the service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied PTSD claim, are all pending. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed before these claims can be decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded to allow for further examination and determination of the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any current right knee disability found to be present.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right knee disability was denied. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, which is secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities, was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for VA medical examinations and further review of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been withdrawn. The appeal for a temporary total rating due to right wrist fusion is dismissed.