Knee Board decisions

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the Veteran's left knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee conditions have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling from October 30, 2009 to February 29, 2012. The Board denied higher evaluations for both status post anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee and arthritis of the right knee.,The Veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the right knee from November 30, 2009 to February 29, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the current disability was not incurred in or related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, acquired psychological disorder (including stressor related disorder), and back disability are granted service connection. The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied service connection. Service connection for a traumatic brain injury and a headache disability secondary to the traumatic brain injury are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to determine if service connection is warranted for bladder cancer, arthritis of the back and knees, and hearing loss. The Veteran's private treatment records are requested, as well as a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, back, shoulder, and radiculopathy disabilities due to insufficient evidence of current diagnoses or etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents during military service and to obtain additional opinions regarding the etiology of his aortic valve condition. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee injury is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for various conditions, including dysmenorrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, bilateral ankle disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee strain, right knee strain, restless legs syndrome, HPV, infertility, gallbladder surgery, tremors and spasms to face and hands, itching, pain, and scars, and VA medical treatment.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development due to the receipt of new treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that his current knee disability did not manifest during or within one year after service and was not caused by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of his in-service hospitalization records and a need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development due to pending actions by the RO.

The Veteran's right hand disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. From June 1, 2009 to June 7, 2010, the Veteran was denied increased ratings for his left knee disabilities. Since August 1, 2011, he has been granted a 60% rating for his post-traumatic degenerative joint disease (DJD) status-post total left knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disorder, left foot numbness, and upper extremity numbness.,These issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically obtaining federal records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has denied an earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for left total knee replacement. The Veteran's claims for service connection of back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia patella and patellar tendonitis are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.