Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that there are no current disabilities for any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee scar, but denied service connection for low back disability and left knee disability other than the scar. The Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability is addressed in the remand portion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, which is now granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, left wrist, index and middle fingers, right knee, right ankle, bilateral foot disorder (including cold injury residuals), or low back disorders. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right ankle disorders, finding no evidence of current conditions related to the Veteran's military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his in-service injuries while playing football, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's right knee/leg disability is not deemed to be due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part. The Board finds no additional disability.

The Board found that the cause of death, subdural hematoma due to blunt head trauma, was not service-connected as it did not result from a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's PTSD and other disabilities were not determined to have contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected left and right knee traumatic arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess functional loss during flare-ups and proper range of motion testing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected left knee disability is partially granted with the assignment of a temporary total 100% rating from May 25, 2012 to June 25, 2013. The case is remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, a left arm scar, obstructive sleep apnea, and blurred vision are all granted.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by competent medical evidence, and the causal relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD is established.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, including SSA disability benefits records. The right knee and right hip issues are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disability. Specifically, clarification from the private examiner regarding speech discrimination scores in July 2013 audiological examination is required, as well as obtaining relevant VA treatment records and any non-duplicative private treatment records. Additionally, the Veteran should be scheduled for a VA joint examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left knee disability.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability is not warranted, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's left knee disability manifests with painful motion and arthritis without incapacitating exacerbations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bilateral knee disability as resolved by a March 2015 award of service connection. The remaining claims on lower back and left shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including reviewing new evidence and conducting a VA examination to address the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The AOJ is also requested to confirm the dates of the Veteran's participation in the United States Army reserves and consider whether any service-connected disability caused or aggravated his right knee condition.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip, left hip, and back conditions have been reopened. The Veteran's knee conditions are also pending.,Service connection for a kidney disability is not warranted.