Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a new VA examination to address the issues raised by the appeal.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his right knee degenerative arthritis was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation effective from December 18, 2006. The appeal is about the evaluation on or after that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist disorder, left hip disorder, low back disorder, right arm and wrist disorder, varicose veins, surgical scars of the right leg, right leg disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms are reasonably contemplated by the current ratings and do not warrant an extraschedular evaluation. Additionally, the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing and issuing a statement of the case on increased rating and earlier effective date issues.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral knee strains and stress fractures of the heels have been granted service connection, with a 10 percent disability rating for each foot. The right knee strain is rated at 10 percent since discharge from service, while left knee strain remains noncompensable. Stress fractures of both heels are currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to December 8, 2009 and the Veteran has not required assistive devices.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, and right knee disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that additional VAMC records from March 2000 to March 2007 and from August 2008 to the present should be requested, as well as VA medical examination for joints and spine. The Veteran's claims are remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to be related to service, with the Board finding that his symptoms began in service and continued after service.,Service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy is granted as there is a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, headaches, and dizzy spells are service-connected. The decision grants these claims with a 20% rating for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.,Service connection for the right knee disability is granted as it was aggravated by service, with a current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral syndrome.,A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that meets the criteria for a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased disability rating for medial degenerative arthritis right knee.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for updated VA examinations and clarification of certain issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination of his psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disability, including arthritis and instability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right shoulder or right knee disabilities, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.