Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the evidence received since the April 2006 rating decision is not new and material, and therefore denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected knee and wrist conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing before the Board at the RO. The issues include rating for bilateral hearing loss, verruca on both hands, and residuals of a fracture of the right little finger; service connection for erectile dysfunction, PTSD, left knee condition, hypertension, bilateral eye condition, and migraine headaches; and reopening claims for left knee condition, hypertension, and bilateral eye condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee subluxation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated as 70 percent disabling (combined), including a 50 percent rating for OSA, and preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and employment background. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing. The right knee disability claim is still pending and will be addressed after scheduling the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records from his period of active duty. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted with an effective date of February 20, 2001. The Board found that the Veteran's entitlement to service connection arose prior to the February 20, 2001, date of claim and thus determined that the earlier effective date is February 20, 2001.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her in-service noise exposure, and she is granted service connection for this condition.,The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the bilateral ulnar nerve disability is related to the Veteran's active duty service. The Board finds service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a Board hearing via videoconference from the RO.

The Veteran's right knee disability, manifested by limited motion and pain, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate consideration of the effects of the Veteran's knee disorders and referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability associated with status post left knee meniscectomy, effective from the date of the decision.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions from an orthopedist to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and low back disabilities are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the current diagnosis of left knee degenerative joint disease is related to an in-service injury and symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement has not met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation from June 1, 2010.,Prior to April 17, 2009, the Veteran's left knee disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee are granted service connection. The issue of a right knee disorder other than patellofemoral syndrome is remanded for further development.