Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases of extending a temporary total rating and increasing the rating for the Veteran's right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding therapeutic immobilization or continued use of crutches during the relevant period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a compensable evaluation for a scar at the back of the head. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA Scars Examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected scar, and his claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and dismissed his appeal regarding his right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee genu varus and right foot bunion due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and other joint pain conditions are being remanded for further development. The issues of increased rating, compensable rating, service connection, and TDIU will be addressed after the additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional development, including obtaining medical records from his former employers.

The Board finds the July 2012 VA examination report to be incomplete and remands for additional development, including a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records from private facilities where he received treatment. The VA must request copies of his records from these facilities and provide him with an opportunity to respond.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include rating an initial claim for right clavicle fracture, service connection for left shoulder disorder, right knee strain, right hamstring disorder, left hamstring disorder, low back disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition is granted. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right elbow and ear surgical scars, bilateral inner ear scars, bilateral hearing loss, left-hand ring finger disorder, left thigh disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and left foot disorder have all been granted based on service connection being presumed due to in-service noise exposure, surgeries, and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left lower extremity, right knee, and right lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 9, 2008. The Board finds that the combined rating percentage requirements were met during certain periods and not met at other times.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that these ratings are inadequate. The case is being remanded to obtain a new examination and rating determination.

The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been granted service connection. The Board has remanded for further examination on neck, hip, knee, and tailbone disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of right knee degenerative arthritis was denied as there is no legal basis to grant such a request.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not linked to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was also denied for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand several of the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examinations and unobtainable medical records. The Veteran will need to undergo a new VA examination for her left knee, and VA will attempt to obtain her private treatment records from Dr. Tai Chung and South Butler Medical Services.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for heart disorder, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and sepsis. The right knee disability, COPD, and bilateral hearing loss were granted as incurred in active service.