Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the bilateral hips and thus service connection for this condition is denied. For his right knee and low back disabilities, an addendum opinion is required to address whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical care expenses incurred on May 9, 2011 is denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and prior authorization was not obtained.

The Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in service, are not related to active service, did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and are not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The Board also found that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to February 9, 2013.

The Board found no service connection for a left knee disability due to lack of nexus between current condition and in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and left knee disability are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted a 100% schedular rating for schizoaffective disorder and entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits since October 18, 2001. The effective date of service connection for the psychiatric disability is also set at this date.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds no evidence of a current right rib disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle DJD are established, but not service connected. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to reschedule his hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date for sleep apnea and increased rating for left knee disability were denied. The claim for TDIU was not adjudicated as it was not raised in the current appeal period.

The Board's May 2013 decision is dismissed as the Veteran did not provide a clear and specific allegation of CUE in any of the issues decided.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, is not related to his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, heart disorder (secondary to PTSD), and an effective date earlier than December 17, 2008, for PTSD. The Board also declined to revise or reverse a January 21, 1960, VA rating decision on CUE.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its decision and a need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, did not render him unemployable prior to June 27, 2014. As of that date, the issue of TDIU is moot due to the assignment of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, knee, and foot conditions are not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection were denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee, hip, and ankle disabilities due to lack of diagnosis. The claim of service connection for a neck disability is reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements of in-service noise exposure are credible. The heart disorder claim is remanded as new VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if it was incurred during service or due to Agent Orange exposure.