Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a heart condition and for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right leg sciatica, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The appeals were not granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded to allow for this development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and chondromalacia of the right knee, but denied service connection for prostatitis, sciatica, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's increased rating claims, service connection claim for shoulder disorders, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, left knee disorder and skin disorder have been pending since their initial filing in May 1987. The RO denied these claims in November 1987, but the Veteran perfected an appeal on her own initiative. However, no action was taken by VA to transfer the case to the Board for appellate review. As a result, the effective date of service connection is being determined based on when entitlement arose with respect to the May 1987 claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective August 9, 2010. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for bipolar disorder remains pending with the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee is rated at 20 percent, and no more. The Veteran's residual scar, status post left knee, does not meet criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder claimed as secondary to service-connected disorders (and disorders for which service connection is claimed), was reopened. Service connection for sleep disturbance and residuals of a torn meniscus of the right knee were also granted with effective dates prior to February 11, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities, as well as back and left shoulder disabilities. Further development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating of PTSD, as well as the issues related to colon cancer, bilateral knee condition, neck disorder, and right shoulder condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, foot disorder, knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and breathing disorder are all granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including DJD of the right knee, was neither incurred in nor aggravated by service and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. As such, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep disorder, hearing loss, lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disease L5-S1, right ankle post-operative residuals, traumatic arthritis, and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome to allow for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar II disorder, depression) and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

Service connection is denied for a left elbow disability.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability and post-laminectomy neck disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability did not have its onset during his first period of service and is not related to or aggravated by his second period of active service. The pre-existing condition was deemed to clearly and unmistakably exist prior to his second period of service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an updated VA opinion regarding his service connection claims.