Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU based on his service-connected right knee disabilities. The issues related to an increase in rating were not fully addressed, particularly regarding functional impairment due to flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder and degenerative disc disease are related to his active service, granting his claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran with a VA examination to address his left knee disability and psychiatric disorder claims.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not present during service or within one year of active service, and it is not caused by or related to any incident of service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee injury, thoracic spondylosis with scoliosis, migraine headaches, and cognitive dysfunction due to TBI, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and elbow disorders have been granted.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was implicitly denied in the August 1995 and March 2000 rating decisions, as no appeal was filed within one year of these decisions. The effective date cannot be earlier than October 20, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee disorder, or a back disorder due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, tinnitus, residuals of bilateral hip and knee injuries, sleep apnea, and boils/abscesses in the groin region due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,For each issue on appeal, the VA examiners found no direct link between the claimed condition and training or service. The Board also noted that post-service records did not show any treatment for these conditions until many years after release from training.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claim for a VA medical opinion to address whether his left tibia/left knee osteochondroma existed prior to service and if any increase in disability was due to natural progression of the disease or aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back, left hip, and psychiatric disabilities. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further development regarding duty status during a qualifying period of service. The appellant's claims for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities will be reviewed based on her alleged injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent disabling based on X-ray evidence of arthritis with limited and painful motion. The current rating is appropriate as there is no evidence showing the Veteran's disorder warrants a higher rating under any of the previously explained DCs.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral shin splints, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are due to his military service.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's metatarsalgia of the bilateral feet.

The Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for chronic ear infections and sinusitis. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for additional development.