Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities of the lower back, hips, and knees. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and Gulf War examination.

The Veteran's appeals were withdrawn by the appellant. The RO granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint arthritis, and thus the issue of entitlement to a right knee disability is no longer in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence added to the claims file since the last statement of the case. The issues on appeal include service connection for a bilateral knee disability, a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right hand.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder, and his preexisting left varicocele was not aggravated by service. The nosebleeds are presumed to have existed prior to service.,The Veteran's pre-existing left varicocele is considered to be unrelated to service as it did not increase in severity during or as a result of any service-connected condition. His current complaints of pain do not constitute a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability was granted effective May 16, 2011. The Board finds that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denies the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected.,From August 12, 2009 to March 14, 2011, the Veteran received a rating of 20 percent for his right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis as these conditions were aggravated by the appellant's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion that would warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence regarding an aircraft/vehicle accident in Germany. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and back disorders are now before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met for his bilateral knee disabilities, but granted an additional 10 percent rating for instability of each knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition had its onset during a period of active duty and has persisted since service, granting entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 30 percent was maintained for the relevant periods.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as there is no evidence of its onset within one year after service discharge and the medical opinions do not support a finding that it was caused or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty. The Board also denied service connection for right and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for type II diabetes mellitus because it first manifested more than a year after separation from service, and there is no evidence that the Veteran had diabetes during service or within one year post-service.