Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent since September 9, 2007. The claim for increased ratings prior to October 30, 2012 was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current disability. Therefore, service connection is denied.,Service connection for right knee disability and anal fissures cannot be established as they are not related to in-service events or diseases.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions such as plantar fasciitis, wrist pain, bilateral hearing loss, paresthesias of the left fingers, a psychiatric disorder (to include depression), hand pain, and knee pain. The Veteran is not eligible for compensation benefits for any disabilities that began in or are etiologically related to his second period of active service from December 2001 through August 2007.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back, bilateral knee and left ankle disorders. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a left foot disorder, but no in-service injury or event related to this condition was identified.

The Veteran's clothing allowance is being remanded because the issue of whether his back brace, bilateral knee braces, and wheelchair cause damage to his clothing has not been addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence added to the record since the last adjudications.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip, knee, and ankle condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residual scar from a gunshot wound to the thigh.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hip or right knee disorders, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability and a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions. The Board also noted that the Veteran's arthritis of the right hand did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and residuals of an inguinal hernia due to incomplete examination reports. The examiner is requested to address whether these conditions are related to reserve service during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,An earlier effective date of September 30, 2010, for the award of celiac idiopathic steatorrhea with GERD is denied.,An earlier effective date of July 11, 2012, for the award of left ankle disability is granted.,The grant of service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder was severed as there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a comprehensive examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the right knee rating issue.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for low back strain and remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disorder, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and IVDS. The Veteran is also in receipt of Social Security Administration disability benefits but his SSA records have not been associated with the file.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities, as well as other issues. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues at a hearing.,A claim of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability has been reopened due to new evidence. The Veteran's neck disability is found to be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to new evidence being added to his file, including VA treatment records. The claims include service connection for various conditions related to scleroderma and other disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip and leg, right knee status post total knee replacement, and left shoulder osteoarthritis as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims for bladder cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the legs are remanded due to insufficient information regarding in-service exposure to herbicide agents or formaldehyde.

The Veteran's service connection claim for psychosis or mental illness, left and right hip disability, major depressive disorder, and entitlement to TDIU is denied as he did not have qualifying wartime service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating for arthritis with frequent episodes of locking and pain. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no additional functional loss due to instability or other factors.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.