Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be related to an in-service injury, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is remanded due to lack of an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, as the December 2011 VA examination may not have accurately reflected the extent of his symptoms and limitations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate based on the flexion and extension limitations not meeting higher criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, and a new orthopedic examination to assess his service-connected knee disability.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral knee and hearing loss disabilities to his service, including multiple parachute jumps. The claim for a bilateral knee disability was denied as there is no probative evidence showing that the condition manifested within one year of separation from active duty. The claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability will be remanded due to inadequate audiological examination.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for right knee disability, bilateral wrist disability and bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was granted service connection based on degenerative arthritis, but his right knee and bilateral wrist disabilities were not established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found the VA examiner's opinion regarding the right knee condition to be lacking in sufficient information to adjudicate the claim, as no baseline level of severity could be identified.,The Veteran's service-connected left ankle condition is not considered to have caused or aggravated his right ankle condition beyond its natural progression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely appeal was not filed in response to a March 2011 Statement of the Case, but given the evidence presented, the claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case back for consistent proceedings due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's claimed right knee, lumbar spine, and right leg disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU rating based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knee and back conditions, headaches, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is needed to assess the impact of these disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to address his right knee disability and left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining STRs and corroborating his account of events during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in service, and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of the Veteran's duty status during his Reserve service and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and bilateral knee disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected as it existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.