Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination of his right knee and ankle disabilities. The case will be further adjudicated following completion of these actions.

The Board has denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of March 10, 2009, for the grant of death pension benefits with an aid and attendance allowance. The decision states that no award of death pension benefits prior to March 10, 2009 existed, and thus the March 10, 2009, date of claim is the correct effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional opinions regarding his right knee condition, TDIU claim, and automobile/adaptive equipment claim. The claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent for each knee prior to September 25, 2013 and in excess thereafter. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a Travel Board hearing as requested by the Veteran's representative.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right knee disorder that is attributable to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings for his service-connected left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right knee pain disability and there is no evidence of any chronic right knee condition in service. The VA examiner concluded the Veteran's right knee was essentially normal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for additional medical records.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a medical professional. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have not been manifested by flexion or extension limited to a degree that would warrant an increased rating. The current ratings of 10 percent are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Germany and private medical records from Baptist Hospital. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed to determine if it had onset during service or was caused by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied his claim. For the right knee disability, additional development is needed to determine if the preexisting condition was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee, shin splints, shoulder, finger fracture, and foot conditions have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher ratings based on current functional impairment or other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 4th ed., that is related to a verified stressor event.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no competent evidence establishing that the condition is related to disease or injury or other event in active service. The first manifestation of diabetes mellitus type II occurred many years after service separation and it was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, cervical spine, and low back disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to his incarceration at the time of a scheduled VA examination.