Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for right knee instability and left knee instability, effective July 23, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his hypertension, and issues with obtaining private treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee condition, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claims regarding service connection for various conditions, including hip replacement, knee replacement, poor circulation in the right leg, and gout of the feet. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran did not report any symptoms until many years post-service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of chronic hearing impairment within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated based on its current manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA orthopedic surgeon's October 2012 report, and a new addendum is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating or a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected, and his right knee disability does not warrant a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing post-service treatment records for knees and an insufficient VA medical opinion regarding tinnitus. The Veteran's claims of service connection are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's left knee condition, characterized by dislocated semilunar cartilage and degenerative osteoarthritis, was rated at 20 percent since March 9, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as there is no competent medical evidence linking his claimed disabilities to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for depression and bilateral knee disability were reopened, but his claim for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition does not warrant a rating greater than 10 percent, but has granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's left wrist CTS is likely the result of his active service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted. The right hand disability claim remains pending as a new VA examination is needed to address whether it is secondary to his cervical spine disorder or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities. The claims of service connection for PTSD and traumatic brain injury are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated at less than 60% combined, and his unemployability is attributed to non-service connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot condition did not have its onset during active service and was not otherwise caused by active service. The May 1977 rating decision is final, and new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for DJD of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee musculoligamentous strain and tinnitus, finding that there is a medical relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.,Service connection was denied for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine due to lack of objective findings during VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for a right knee disorder, service connection for back and left hip disorders as secondary to the right knee disorder, and other issues.

The Board found no current diagnosed right knee or right elbow disability and denied service connection for these conditions. For the ear disability, the Board determined that the Veteran's current symptoms were not related to his military service.