Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, rating, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to his right thigh disability, right knee chondromalacia, and nerve damage to his feet.

The Veteran seeks service connection for his right knee disability, which he contends is related to parachute jumps during active duty. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the right knee, and there were no continuous symptoms of arthritis since service separation. The Veteran's current right knee disability is not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The claim to reopen his obstructive sleep apnea was granted, but the underlying claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been reopened and are now being considered on their merits.,Service connection has been granted for left knee disability, right knee disability, chronic vaginitis, chronic UTI, GERD, IBS, hemorrhoids, thyroid condition, and sciatica.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private medical records not being obtained. The Veteran is advised to provide information about any relevant treatment received from outside VA.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches, right knee scar, MDD, chronic cervical strain, DJD of the right knee post-repaired ACL and meniscal injury, chronic right ankle strain, and right foot pes planus, plantar fasciitis and callus of the great toe have been granted. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10% evaluation for his right knee scar.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including hearing loss, gout, stomach disorder, and psychiatric disability. The Board has determined that further examination is necessary to address the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran claims service connection for gout (of the left knee and feet) and a stomach disorder. A VA examination is needed to determine if these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins and granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The left knee disability is not considered distinct from the service-connected peripheral vascular disease, but it is not determined whether it is aggravated by that condition. Service connection for anxiety disorder and depression are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and other conditions, based on presumed exposure to herbicides while serving in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date is set as August 31, 2010, which is when VA added ischemic heart disease (IHD) as a presumptive disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the issues related to gout, venereal warts, a bilateral foot condition, and a right knee condition prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has ordered a supplemental opinion to clarify the July 2009 MRI and determine if the Veteran currently has a right knee disability, its etiology, whether it is related to service or pre-existing conditions, and whether it was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his service-connected right ankle disability and therefore, secondary service connection is denied.

The Board denied entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and denied entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also grants service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it was aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a genitourinary disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted at the time of entry into active service and is presumed to have been aggravated by his military service. The Board also finds that there is reasonable doubt regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability, as well as reasonable doubt regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee disability is due to or aggravated by his service.