Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder have been granted service connection. The left knee disorder and hemorrhoids were denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine whether they are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for the increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred within a year prior to the January 20, 2010, claim for increase.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts. The Veteran's current diagnosis of congenital bilateral cataracts is not related to service, nor are his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, or bilateral foot disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from service for the period prior to February 2, 1991 was not a bar to VA benefits. However, his subsequent service during and after this period is considered dishonorable, thus barring him from receiving VA compensation benefits for any diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of service connection for right wrist, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeal.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, right knee disability, hypertension, low back disability, and several other conditions. The Board has ordered remand for additional development to ensure the claimant is afforded due process and that new VA examinations are conducted.

The Veteran's left thigh disability, including a gunshot wound and femur fracture with partial meniscectomy of the knee, is rated at 60 percent from August 3, 2017. The Veteran also has a compensable scar on his left thigh.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for his scar status post ventral hernia repair was granted. The claims for service connection for left leg disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae are pending, with the latter requiring further development.

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are etiologically related to an in-service injury, specifically a blast exposure during deployment to Iraq. The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left forearm scar, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and IBS. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but the Veteran's left knee meniscus tear and right ankle disorder remain pending issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and need for further medical opinions regarding the service connection of the veteran's knee, tibia, and ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The initial rating periods remain unchanged, with the right knee disability rated at 10 percent from April 25, 2011 to January 12, 2017, and the left knee disability rated at 10 percent from April 25, 2011 to March 6, 2017. The Veteran's claims for separate ratings for right knee instability were also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine and left knee disabilities. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right patella disability had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for left knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability and determine the nature and etiology of any low back disability. The issues on appeal include entitlement to higher ratings for his right knee disabilities and service connection for a low back disability.