Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right ankle, left ankle, and bilateral knee disorders are not related to service. The gastrointestinal disorder is also not linked to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to incomplete records from his VA Medical Center in Wilmington, Delaware for 1972-1973. The case is now pending again with instructions to obtain these records and consider the claim.

The Veteran's left knee arthroscopy residuals are currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to August 31, 2013, and greater than 10 percent from that date. The highest available rating under the applicable diagnostic code is assigned.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 40 percent. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the left ankle disability was not related to service, and the knee disabilities did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, type II diabetes, and nephrolithiasis. However, these claims were subsequently denied on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities and any left wrist disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected spine and right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability. The Veteran will be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities, as well as any pertinent private treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence and need for a VA examination, as well as incomplete records. The appellant's service-connected right knee disability will be evaluated again.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a clinical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee disorders, and providing an appropriate supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether any disability is related to active duty or secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are also being addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a separate rating for a neurological disorder due to the service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for several of his claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain VA treatment records and provide another examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the right knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine are not related to his military service.