Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, sinusitis, left knee disability, left elbow disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease to obtain additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and right knee disability. The claims for reopening of drug and alcohol abuse, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, and anxiety disorder were also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic ankle or knee disability related to service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not etiologically linked to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not attributable to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The Board also found that there is at least equipoise evidence to support the Veteran's claim of bilateral knee disabilities, thus granting this claim as well.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations for certain conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the evaluations requested, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his back disability and service-connected left shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including those related to dental care and right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the claim and determined that a right knee disability, specifically a meniscal tear with degenerative changes, is related to service. The Veteran's current condition was identified after service but is linked back to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability did not have onset during or was caused by his active service, and arthritis of the left knee did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and quadriceps strain is related to an in-service injury during a period of ACDUTRA, and thus service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional impairment, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to its more severe symptoms.

The Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as a meniscal tear, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and osteoarthritis, was incurred in active service. The Board grants the claim of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his knee disabilities, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities of the lumbar spine and knees, and service connection for diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative joint disease, left hip arthritis, left knee strain, and left ankle ligament sprain do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder is related to a period of service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.