Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed neck, low back, and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity within one year post-service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a written statement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings, service connection for a left foot disorder, and sleep apnea have been returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis and asthma, as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee strains. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are inextricably intertwined due to the need for additional development of his knee disabilities. The case is therefore being remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and/or bilateral foot disabilities. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service or exposure to noise therein.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis were granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his left knee disorder.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection of right knee disability, depression, lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea. The initial ratings for left knee lateral meniscus tear and repair with arthritis and left knee instability as residual of lateral meniscus tear and repair were also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, hepatitis B and/or C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with alcohol dependence) have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for hemorrhoids remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee condition, left knee condition, low back condition, costochondritis, and PTSD. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are now moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's reopened claims for service connection of a heart disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The claims for PTSD, Depression and Stress, Left Knee Disability, and Low Back Disability have been granted. The claim for Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 has been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The appeal as to the claims for higher ratings for service-connected lower back disability, left knee injury prior to August 14, 2013, and left total knee arthroplasty is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left knee injury from August 14, 2013 onwards is remanded.

Entitlement to increased ratings for left knee disabilities prior to September 29, 2010 and after November 1, 2011 was denied.,TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia of the patella and instability have been rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.