Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of service treatment records from the Veteran's October 1990 to April 1991 period of active service, including his deployment in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to August 28, 2007 were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's disability picture did not meet criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development regarding the Veteran's right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder (meniscal degeneration) and denied service connection for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's left knee disorder is found to have its onset during active duty, while his allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no evidence of an in-service event or diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD and allergic rhinitis do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for right knee disorder is granted as new and material evidence was submitted, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied due to lack of in-service noise exposure and no causal relationship established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of service connection claims and obtaining a VA examination to assess the relationship between his claimed disabilities and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending issues and requests for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including its impact on daily activities and during flare-ups. The current rating remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary and the case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, Social Security Administration records, and private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders will be reconsidered after this additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for an updated VA examination to assess his service-connected bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a right knee disorder. The claims will now be considered on their merits.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, status post meniscus repair, in place of the single 10 percent rating currently in effect.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee chondromalacia, left knee chondromalacia, and lumbosacral strain were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of their current assigned percentages.,VA examinations consistently showed that the Veteran’s range of motion was within normal limits for his service-connected right and left knees, with no instability or subluxation noted. His lumbosacral strain also met criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service injury and her current hip disability, thus denying service connection for bilateral hip bursitis.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only was denied. The Board granted the Veteran's special monthly compensation based on need for aid & attendance/housebound status, as he requires assistance in protecting himself from environmental hazards due to his service-connected disabilities.