Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right ankle disability, and personality disorder were denied by the RO in April 2010. The effective date of his awards was January 13, 2012.,The Veteran's claim for a right ankle disability has been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the April 2010 denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia and arthralgia were incurred in or aggravated by active service, based on clear and unmistakable evidence of preexistence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records from VA facilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an administrative error in sending hearing notification letters. The case will be returned for further appellate consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to determine the etiology of any diagnosed migraines and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for diabetes was not granted, chronic otitis externa did not warrant a compensable rating, the lumbar spine disability received an increased rating but remained at 20 percent, cervical spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, knee disorder, ankle disorder, kidney disorder (hypertension), heart disorder (hypertension), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were not granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes was rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disability was aggravated by active service, and granted service connection for it.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, which necessitated his total knee replacement surgery, is not a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for a temporary total rating based on left knee surgery necessitating convalescence cannot be granted.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities, specifically instability and traumatic arthritis, are rated at 20 percent prior to March 28, 2012. The apportionment of VA benefits for his dependent mother is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee disability and his service. The VA examiner failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements about in-service injury, nor did they provide a rationale for their conclusion that there is no link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of current diagnosis for a bilateral knee disorder and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have initially manifested during service and has continued intermittently since then, meeting the criteria for service connection under presumptive provisions.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not found to be related to his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus secondary service connection for the right knee disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service and grants service connection for a right total knee replacement.