Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with the mailing address and for obtaining additional medical records related to her low back, right knee, psoriasis, and eczema claims.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is characterized by x-ray evidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis, and is manifested by painful motion. The RO has granted a 10 percent rating for the service-connected posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a new VA medical examination and an inquiry into Social Security Administration records. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability are also on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disorders did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise related to his military service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger and knee disorders. The Veteran will be provided with an examination and any other necessary development before his claims can be readjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, and his claimed back, neck, knee, hip, and nerve disorders are not related to service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine condition, left upper extremity numbness, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral knee condition. The evidence shows that these conditions preexisted service but were aggravated by his final period of active duty service.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder can be fully adjudicated.

All issues related to service connection have been granted. The Veteran's cluster headaches are rated at 50% effective October 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bowel disorder, right eye disorder, deviated septum, skin disorder, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her bilateral knee disability was granted. However, she is not entitled to service connection for a low back disability as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that such a condition is related to her service-connected bilateral knee strain.

The Veteran's right knee disorder has been rated at 10 percent since August 1, 2006. He is also entitled to a separate evaluation of 10 percent for slight recurrent lateral instability.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a right knee disability that was incurred during active service and is entitled to service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a left knee disability during or since service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, right shoulder, and right ankle disabilities. This includes obtaining a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions and obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for stomach disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee surgical scars were granted. The initial compensable rating claim for the left knee surgical scars was denied as noncompensably disabling. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given another opportunity to attend the hearing.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis B was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The remaining issues of service connection for knee meniscal tears, disc disease with chronic low back pain, sleep apnea, and shoulder rotator cuff tears were denied as well.