Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cancer and joint issues, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to his left knee disability and an increased rating for the left knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. A new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the disabilities and whether they have been aggravated by the service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely due to his military service. The issue of arthritis of the right knee, hips, and left shoulder remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right leg, left leg, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not manifested by ankylosis of the spine, incapacitating episodes of at least 6 weeks within any 12 month period, or associated neurological manifestations of the lower extremities or bowel/ bladder manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and requests for VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending, as well as a request for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, concluding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder have been denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to noise exposure during his military service. The claim for a bilateral knee disability remains pending and will be remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral pes planus, and hammertoes and a bunion of the right foot. The claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of ocular pressure, hyperlipidemia, and dental trauma issues due to her withdrawal during the October 2012 hearing. The claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, toes of the left and right feet, and osteoporosis are also dismissed as they have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating for his right knee disability was denied. His initial claim for an earlier effective date has been withdrawn. The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability, and there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes warranting separate evaluations under Diagnostic Codes 5260-5261 and 5257. His claim for service connection for his right foot disability was also denied as the current condition does not appear to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran is receiving the maximum schedular rating for residuals of status post right partial lateral meniscectomy.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her knee condition, which she claims was caused by in-service activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as panic attacks and PTSD), left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, low back disorder, or neck disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and records, including VA treatment records since June 2010, and new examinations for the Veteran's bilateral knee, left shoulder, low back disabilities; and insomnia (claimed as depression and anxiety).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability, and there is no evidence of arthritis in service. The Veteran's left knee disability is also denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of record to support service connection for a bilateral knee condition or headaches.

The Veteran's medical expenses at South Georgia Medical Center from May 17, 2010 to May 18, 2010 and on March 28, 2011 are granted as the treatment was deemed necessary due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the knees were withdrawn prior to a decision being made.