Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active service and service-connected disabilities, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The issues of service connection for residuals of a fractured nose and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right knee disability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the issues of increased rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's right knee disability is being evaluated to determine if it is related to her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date, finding no evidence of a current disability in most cases or no causal link to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent prior to July 21, 2012. A separate 20 percent rating for instability of the left knee is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active service, and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received in order to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches; entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected fibromyalgia; and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected vascular heart disease are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as mild patellar tendinosis with effusion and slight lateral subluxation, has been rated at 10 percent since July 31, 2012. The rating for painful flexion of the left knee is also 10 percent effective from July 31, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's left knee, skin disorders (other than chloracne), and bilateral hearing loss are all found to be service-connected. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and tinea barbae is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as headaches. The initial ratings for lumbar spine and bilateral eye disabilities are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left and right knee disabilities has been withdrawn by the appellant's attorney before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 10, 2015 are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee degenerative joint disease has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 14, 2010, for the grant of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of evidence showing she filed her formal application for benefits within one year after receiving the initial request.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Veteran's pre-existing right knee condition was aggravated by in-service activities, resulting in current disability. Service connection is granted for this condition. Additionally, the Board finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased ratings for various knee conditions, arthritis, and Bell's palsy. Additionally, the Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammer toe, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, left ankle arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, asthma, and hepatitis C. The appeal is being remanded to allow for a new hearing before a different Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether his knee disabilities are secondary or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease prior to February 18, 2009 was manifested by symptoms including pain and stiffness with full extension. The flexion did not go below 60 degrees.