Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and back disability have been granted. The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen these claims and has determined that the preponderance of the evidence supports the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. Additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and bilateral pes planus disabilities due to incomplete records and need for clarification on whether the Veteran's preexisting pes planus disability was permanently worsened during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee injury was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that his current right knee disability may be related to his military service, specifically his reported history of right knee pain since physical training in service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's flat feet, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The issues of service connection are related to whether these disabilities were aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degeneration, cervical strain, and right knee disability are secondary to his service-connected left foot DJD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD is found to have caused his mood disorder, and the claim for secondary service connection for a mood disorder is granted.

The claim to reopen the service connection for lumbar spine disability is granted. The claims for left knee disability are remanded.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's right knee condition has been reopened, but further examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to assess whether his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination of the Veteran's right knee, as there is no recent VA examination record available. The effective date claim is also pending and will be addressed in conjunction with the examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, right knee, TBI, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's left ventricular hypertrophy and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, migraines, and status post left knee replacement are remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for tinea versicolor is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal as to diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, residuals of a head injury, and migraine headaches have been granted.

The Board has not decided the service connection for hypertension, but has remanded the rating claims for right knee instability and degenerative arthritis. The claim for reopening of service connection for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed stomach disorder, kidney disease including nephrolithiasis, prostate disorders and erectile dysfunction, cerebral aneurysm, or psychiatric disorder. Service connection has also been denied for headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination. The Board will consider the appropriateness of staged ratings based on distinct time periods where symptoms warrant different disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims for radiculopathy of the right leg and left leg are remanded due to lack of a definitive diagnosis in the record.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the right knee disability and TDIU issues are remanded for further development.