Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and right knee disorders. This includes obtaining additional VA treatment records, Reserve/National Guard service records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his left foot disability claim. The right thumb and bilateral plantar fasciitis/right foot conditions were not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's appeal involves a request for higher initial evaluation of his service-connected right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disability have been granted, with a separate evaluation of 10 percent assigned for symptomatic right knee status post meniscectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right lower extremity disorder, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to address inconsistencies in a previous medical opinion and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee disability were granted, with a combined rating of 20 percent effective from December 15, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for her service-connected knee disabilities, as the previous one was deemed inadequate. The examiner must provide additional information regarding the extent of functional loss due to pain and other symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional examinations and development. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as due to exposure to an herbicidal agent, have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatic steatosis due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune was denied. The VA examiner found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current liver condition and his in-service exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's current TMJ is also found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a new VA examination for his left knee disability and issuing supplemental statements of the case addressing all issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is attributable to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for depression secondary to bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge due to relocation issues and the need for proper notification.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current knee disabilities and his service, as the previous examinations did not address this issue.

The Board denied all issues related to the Veteran's claims, finding that his right ankle disability did not warrant a compensable rating and that his knee disabilities were rated appropriately. The effective dates for service connection of his knee conditions were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is REMANDED due to incomplete development. The AOJ needs to obtain additional medical records, conduct a VA examination, evaluate his nonservice-connected disabilities, and determine if he meets the requirements for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, as well as lumbar and thoracic musculotendinous strain, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing that any of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent or separate compensable evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and bilateral hip disorder were also denied. The Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a right shoulder condition related to his military service, nor was there evidence showing that any hip disorder was caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.