Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee instability claim is being remanded for additional development, including issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim and establishing an etiological relationship between the conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current left knee condition to military service or his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the service connection for both left and right knee disabilities has already been granted.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities as the appellant withdrew these claims prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and lumbar spine disorders due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical multilevel spondylosis, multilevel lumbar degenerative spine disease, bilateral Achilles enthesopathy, mid left acetabular sclerosis, and bilateral knee mild osteoarthritis.,Service connection was denied for malaria, right hip condition, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), headaches, and acid reflux.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a separate rating for his right ankle sprain, have been granted. Each knee disability is rated at 10 percent, with additional 20 percent ratings for instability and impairment of the semilunar cartilage, and 10 percent ratings for arthritis with noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee condition and gastrointestinal condition (claimed as acid reflux) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of CUE in the September 2011 denial of service connection for right and left knee arthritis, finding that the correct facts were before the adjudicator and the applicable law was correctly applied.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 12, 2007 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), to include on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the etiology of his knee conditions, hearing loss, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cerebrovascular accident has been withdrawn.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no in-service event or continuous symptomatology related to the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability within VA standards.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, osteoarthritis impacting multiple joints, and erectile dysfunction are remanded for further evaluation.,Further medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s conditions are related to service or other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability was aggravated during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including providing him with current and adequate VA examinations of his knees. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding relevant records and schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,Service connection for heart disease is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, numbness of the left fingers, numbness of the right fingers, a left foot condition, a right foot condition, and numbness on the right side (described as right leg numbness) are remanded.,Service connection for teeth loss is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for high blood pressure (hypertension) is remanded.,Service connection for low testosterone is remanded.,Service connection for a right knee disability (claimed as a weak right knee), a low back disability (claimed as low back stiffness), and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to obtain the Veteran's medical records and to schedule a VA examination for his right ankle disability. The claims for service connection for various knee, hip, upper-leg, and lower-leg disabilities are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right knee, lower back, and right hip disabilities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent prior to April 1, 2011 and 40 percent thereafter for limitation of extension. The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent.,Both disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with a ganglion cyst, left knee arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tinea versicolor are granted service connection.,Issues related to the left ankle collateral ligament strain, essential hypertension, dyshidrotic eczematous dermatitis, and effective dates for these conditions remain pending.