Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's below the knee amputation was caused by negligent care from VA medical providers, resulting in additional disability. The Board has granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to have been incurred during service.,His unspecified depressive disorder is determined to be secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,Back, neck, left knee, and right knee disorders are all denied as not related to service.,Right eye and left eye disorders are also denied as not related to service.,Diabetes mellitus is denied as not related to service.,Peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities and lower extremities are both denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's left leg/knee disability is rated at a 10 percent level, which he requested on appeal. The decision covers the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating, and the issues of higher ratings for left knee instability and limitation of motion are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hematuria, bilateral knee disability, right hip disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions, requiring a more complete examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, is denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology after service and no medical evidence linking it to service. The neck, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including for service connection for various disorders. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability, tinnitus, and dysthymia were denied service connection. The Veteran's PTSD claim is moot as it was already covered by the granted dysthymia.,A disability rating in excess of 50 percent for dysthymia was not granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for low back, tinnitus, right hip, bilateral ankle, and left knee conditions has been granted. The issues of service connection for right hip condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left knee condition have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity in the VA addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease clearly and unmistakably was not aggravated by service. The claim will be further developed with an additional medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete opinions.

The Veteran's claims for neck, bilateral shoulder, left arm, left hand, and bilateral knee disabilities are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The issues of headaches and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings are not fully informed due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The cases are REMANDED for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran is granted higher levels of SMC based on anatomical loss of both feet, need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities other than bilateral knee amputation, and additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more. The highest level of SMC awarded is SMC-N.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran's PTSD claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's meniscectomy and partial right knee replacement are rated based on their respective conditions, with a separate rating for the meniscectomy and a current rating for the partial knee replacement.

The Board is remanding several claims for further development, including those related to left knee osteoarthritis and other service-connected disabilities.,Additional medical records are needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and determine if they are related to her military service or service-connected disabilities.