Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination and review of the Veteran's medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right knee disability, which he claims was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and disability related to grinding of teeth were all found to be incurred in active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his left knee and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is related to his periods of active and inactive duty for training (ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA) in the Reserves, which caused falls and injuries resulting in his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, anxiety disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a diagnosed condition during active duty. His anxiety disorder is related to his military service, specifically exposure to traumatic events. Diabetes mellitus is found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's reported exposure to Malathion insecticide while serving as an air policeman.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of right knee disability and right knee scar have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of an umbilical hernia repair is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CLL, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, GERD, lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, leg disorders, and a psychiatric disorder are denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not established as prior to January 23, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, which developed after a service-connected injury in 1959, is found to be related to his military service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected knee disabilities was denied as the Under Secretary for Health did not certify that the prescribed knee braces tend to wear or tear clothing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability. The issues on appeal are a higher rating for left total knee replacement and entitlement to a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 28, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee, low back, and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's esophageal dysmotility disorder, right and left foot hallux valgus, migraine headaches, asthma, psoriasis, and alopecia are all rated at the maximum available under VA regulations. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been evaluated at 40 percent prior to July 26, 2010, and 50 percent thereafter. The Board found no basis for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion but granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for instability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his right knee strain (previously claimed as a right knee disability) is granted. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports the claim, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10% each for painful motion. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of more than noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a back disability. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his Vietnam service were found to be not supported by the record.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support higher ratings due to lack of functional loss or instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise causally related to his military service.