Knee Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical examination and development of evidence. The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are under review.

The Veteran's service-connected back and knee disabilities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment as of May 1, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left leg/knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right thigh injury due to lack of medical evidence supporting such a relationship.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right knee, foot, hip, shoulder, sleep disorder, asthma, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist degenerative change, status post distal radial fracture, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome did not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience otherwise qualify him.,Effective May 29, 2012, service-connection was established for a mood disorder NOS, rated 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which is service-connected and rated at 30 percent, does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all claims.

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her claim for service connection for depression.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, neck condition and gastrointestinal condition are all service-connected. The Board has also granted service connection for sinusitis and low back condition. However, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist and knee conditions have not been established as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the severity of her right knee disability. A medical opinion will also be obtained regarding whether her low back disability is related to service or her service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's significant service-connected disabilities, including major depression, prostate carcinoma, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, necessitate regular aid and attendance from another person. The Board has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining verification of service dates and private medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus. However, due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss, a new medical opinion is needed to determine whether it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right shoulder disability, service connection for low back disability, stomach disability, bilateral knee disability, and dental problems were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding his in-service injuries or disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, surgical scars, and right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder had its onset during active service or is otherwise causally related to such service. The AOJ should also obtain an opinion on whether any preexisting right knee disorder was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service, but the bilateral knee and foot conditions may not be. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also related to service.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type with psychotic symptoms) that likely had its onset during or is otherwise related to his period of active duty from 1973 to 1979.

The Board has reopened the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied service connection. The Veteran's hypertension remains at a noncompensable rating prior to August 29, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent.