Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation, nor are they causally related to his military service. The VA examiners concluded that there is no evidence of chronicity of these conditions post-service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and for additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities have been denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected knee laxity and instability have been denied, but he is granted a separate 10% rating for each knee since December 4, 2014.,He has also been granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis associated with chondromalacia patella.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues with VA examinations, notification of such examinations, and service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for left knee and hip disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and service treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to provide a statement regarding symptoms of his claimed pelvic disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence obtained after the latest supplemental statement of the case was issued in March 2015. The appellant is advised that he may submit any relevant VA and private treatment records in his possession.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. The right knee disability is secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a left knee disability and denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to the lack of verified in-service stressor, resulting in a mixed decision.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is found to be aggravated by service, warranting service connection.,For the period from November 4, 2009, through February 23, 2014, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent prior to June 11, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining treatment records from his left total knee arthroplasty (total knee replacement).

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's left knee disability and low back disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability and granted service connection based on direct evidence showing that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right knee disorder during service or for many years thereafter, and the Veteran's current right knee condition is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and arranging an orthopedic examination.

Service connection for a back condition was denied in May 2008 and remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral foot disorder has been reopened but remains denied. Evidence received since the November 1992 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression disorder has been granted a 30 percent rating, effective October 29, 2011.