Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including chest pain, bilateral knee pain, and neck pain, are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and dental disorder. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral ankle disability or tinnitus, and the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection. The claim for a knee disability secondary to lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was not adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be the primary cause of his sleep disorder and chronic fatigue, which are granted as secondary to this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to clarify the opinion of the May 2013 VA examiner and to consider new evidence, including records from Lakeview Orthopaedics and Dr. Messieh.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an updated opinion regarding the etiology of his knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities had their onset during his period of honorable service from September 5, 2000, to September 4, 2004. Therefore, these conditions are considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an extraschedular rating, and his claim for TDIU is denied as he has not demonstrated that his service-connected conditions render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from North Island Medical Center. The case will be remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, and the Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with other issues. The case is therefore REMANDED to schedule a videoconference hearing before the undersigned VLJ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA outpatient treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current level of severity of his disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a left knee sprain and finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his current condition is related to active service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CMTD, right knee disability, bilateral shin splints, and left knee disability have been granted. The issues of reopening the claims for right knee disability and bilateral shin splints are also granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for entitlement to service connection for right knee and left knee disorders, effective May 17, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Board has decided that additional development of the evidence is required before deciding whether the Veteran's current left knee degenerative joint disease was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and restoration of his 40% rating for bilateral hearing loss as of March 1, 2013. The Veteran must provide additional evidence to support these claims.