Knee decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PUD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not show a disability picture more nearly approximating moderate or higher for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records, scheduling a VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar strain, and PTSD, and updating the claims file with all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to withdrawal of appeals by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service duties. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of symptoms during service and a causal relationship between those symptoms and current disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports. The claim will be reconsidered after all necessary information is obtained.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosable right knee disability and therefore, service connection for an unspecified right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a right knee disorder was denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) was granted based on presumed exposure under the PACT Act.,The Veteran has been awarded service connection for PTSD, but his claim for a right knee disorder remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, sinusitis, left knee disability, left elbow disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease to obtain additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and right knee disability. The claims for reopening of drug and alcohol abuse, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, and anxiety disorder were also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic ankle or knee disability related to service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not etiologically linked to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not attributable to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The Board also found that there is at least equipoise evidence to support the Veteran's claim of bilateral knee disabilities, thus granting this claim as well.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations for certain conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the evaluations requested, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his back disability and service-connected left shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including those related to dental care and right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the claim and determined that a right knee disability, specifically a meniscal tear with degenerative changes, is related to service. The Veteran's current condition was identified after service but is linked back to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.