Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including an examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and its impact on employment. The TDIU claim will also be developed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and examinations related to her psychiatric disability, left shoulder and right knee disabilities, left ear hearing loss, and foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's knee, back, and hypertension disorders. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity to submit private evidence or authorize VA to obtain it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for several issues, and service connection for a left knee disorder (arthritis) is granted. The issue of severance of service connection for extraction of tooth #8 due to periodontal disease is also addressed.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for shrapnel wounds and scars have been denied. The lower extremity muscle disabilities are rated as 10% each, while the upper lip scar is rated at 0%. The scars causing limitation of function of the knee are also rated as 10%.,The Veteran's service-connected shrapnel wounds have not met criteria for higher ratings under DCs 5311 and 5312. However, separate 10% ratings were assigned for each leg based on muscle Group XI disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee strain and service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are not shown to be related to his service, or to have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities, including arthritis and a history of instability, are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome has not been manifested by flexion limited to 45 degrees or any limitation of extension, including due to pain or following repetitive motion. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back, hearing loss, Achilles tendon, and knee disabilities were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings and issues for right chondromalacia of the patella, right knee torn meniscus, left chondromalacia of the patella, right knee instability, and left knee instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The VA examiner found no evidence to support a current mental health diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new VA examination. The issues are whether the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disability was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is related to his military service. However, the knee and foot disabilities have not been evaluated due to lack of evidence or examination.