Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including as due to undiagnosed illness. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and for obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's need for aid and attendance is being evaluated.

The Board has remanded the claims due to failure to obtain relevant medical records from UTMB/Texas Department of Criminal Justice McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, or right shoulder disability for VA purposes and therefore cannot establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's left knee lateral meniscal tear was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed depression disorder is proximately due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The Board also found no evidence of a current right knee or left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination of the Veteran's left knee and review of his medical records.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 30, 2012. The effective date for this rating is pending further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an adequate VA medical examination and opinion regarding his left knee and left hip degenerative joint disease, including whether they are related to his service-connected right knee disorder. Additional treatment records from the VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida should also be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and cervical spine disorders, as well as his claim for an increased rating for left knee disability, were denied. However, the Veteran was granted a 60% rating for post-total replacement of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of left knee and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The epididymitis claim was granted with a noncompensable rating, while the urethritis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, scars or marks on buttocks and coccyx, shortening of left lower extremity, and residuals of stomach injury claims were all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from Guantanamo Bay and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as well as VA and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disorders, finding that these conditions are secondary to his pre-existing flat feet. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a wrenched left knee. The denial was based on lack of evidence showing a nexus between current left knee disorder and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to concerns about service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including consideration of undiagnosed illness and potential aggravation by a service-connected condition (PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected right knee conditions have not been shown to warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since June 3, 2004. His tinnitus is service-connected and rated as secondary to his hypothyroidism. The Veteran's bronchitis is not compensable but warrants a rating of 100%. Other conditions are either not shown or do not warrant increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural defects, including the failure to issue a statement of the case for his disagreement with assigned evaluations and earlier effective dates. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated in conjunction with these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion on the right knee disability and assessing the severity of the left knee disability. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after these actions.