Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA outpatient treatment records and a need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left leg disability, including knee issues.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disorder due to his withdrawal. Service connection is granted for asthma and hair loss (alopecia areata) as incurred in service, but not for headaches or initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to the evaluation of service-connected residuals of a left elbow injury with degenerative changes, earlier effective dates for various scars and service connection for a left leg injury. As such, these appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 1, 2011 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right knee chondromalacia, status post arthroscopy was denied. The temporary total disability rating due to surgery and period of convalescence from October 19, 2010 to January 1, 2011 was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after the left knee and right shoulder disability ratings are addressed.

The Board found that the July 1985 rating decision denying service connection for a right knee disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there was no chronic right knee disability at the time of the VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA medical records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders is pending.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability and bilateral foot disability, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or a link to service. The remaining issues on appeal are not addressed as they have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his service-connected right distal fibula fracture, with increased weight bearing causing additional stress on these joints.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are also being reviewed.

The Board has declined to adjudicate the issue of entitlement to a TDIU, and now remands it for further development including a VA examination.

The Board has jurisdiction over the timely and adequately appealed issues regarding service connection for various conditions, including PTSD. The Veteran's appeal as to a respiratory disability is dismissed due to lack of justiciable case or controversy.

The Veteran's left knee musculoligamentous strain is productive of painful motion with flexion to 120 degrees and extension to 0 degrees, but does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee, status post surgery for ACL repair with residual scars was denied by the RO. The Board has now remanded the case to obtain additional evidence and conduct a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, status post total knee replacement, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating since September 1, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied both claims.