Knee Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his period of service from August 1942 to October 1945, and any other identified periods of service prior to June 1967 and/or from July 1972.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability and his active military service, including any injury sustained during his time in Vietnam. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have qualifying chronic disabilities characterized by symptoms of lumbar spine pain, gastrointestinal complaints, or sinus arrhythmia and cardiac murmur. The Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected right knee/thigh and scarring disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

Throughout the initial rating period on appeal, the Veteran's left knee disability was manifested by x-ray evidence of arthritis, with limitation of extension to 5 degrees and limitation of flexion to 90 degrees. The Board denied an increased evaluation as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded as additional medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the pending claims.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to determine the proximate cause of his disabilities and whether he is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, right and left knee disability, right and left ankle disability, and a left foot disability are all found to be related to service. The initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance was granted effective January 3, 2007. The condition arose from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of functional impact on employment.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a more thorough examination regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral shoulder disability, a bilateral foot disability, a bilateral ankle disability, and a right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is due to multiple post-service injuries and not related to his service, thus denying service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran failed to report for several VA examinations scheduled in November 2012, which prevented a determination on his claims. The evidence does not support service connection for osteoporosis, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disorder, or low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, low back disorder (claimed as secondary to right knee disorder), and respiratory disorders are not related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, and left knee disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.,There is no evidence of any in-service symptoms or injury that could lead to the current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a review of the Veteran's claims file and an orthopedic examination to address secondary service connection by aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees have been remanded due to inadequate November 2012 VA examination, incomplete treatment records from January 2012 to present, and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and ensuring all records are associated with the claims file.