Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the procedural course of the Veteran's appeal is at issue and remands the case for further action, including issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's chest pain disorder is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or due to a service-connected condition.,The left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further examination and opinion. The COPD claim is also remanded.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded, with the Veteran asserting his symptoms are related to in-service stressors. Service connection for COPD is also remanded based on the Veteran's assertion of gas exposure during service.,The left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further examination and opinion. The COPD claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a change in law regarding secondary service connection, and for additional opinions on whether the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability caused or aggravated his obesity and subsequent hip, low back, and knee disabilities.

Service connection for mycotic infections of the bilateral feet is granted. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for service-connected right knee incomplete posterior tear lateral meniscus to compensate for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee DJD, finding that her symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow disorders, as well as his cervical spine disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right foot disability, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's service connection claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his right foot disability. His increased rating claims are also being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his employment as a shift supervisor does not meet the criteria of substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to new and material evidence received since the prior denial in December 2007.,However, the claims are still denied as there is no probative medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which are inextricably intertwined with the rating issues.

The Veteran's knee disabilities were denied ratings higher than the currently assigned ones for limitations of flexion, extension, and instability prior to specific dates.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) claims are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,The right hand, left hand, left foot, right knee, right hip, and right leg disability claims are denied due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are necessary to assess the current nature, onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations and good cause has been shown.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including post-operative meniscectomy and instability, is rated at 30 percent since January 1, 2007. A separate 10 percent rating for painful limitation of flexion has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that a TDIU is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of complete service treatment records and for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to his military duties involving lifting and handling heavy equipment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he is limited to sedentary work.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tears, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are continuous since his in-service injury and granting presumptive service connection due to arthritis.