Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability have been rated, with the extension issue receiving a separate rating effective May 24, 2011. The earlier effective date for the 20 percent rating for instability is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left knee disorder that is related to service, and denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.,For dental trauma, the VA examiner determined it was incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed blood disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and back disorder. The VA examiner found no direct link between these conditions and his service-connected splenomegaly.

The Veteran's right knee instability is currently rated at 30% since October 7, 2011. He also received a temporary total rating for hospitalization due to left knee surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, knee, and unspecified joint disabilities are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical evidence and for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to assess his left knee disorder, back disorder, and varicose veins. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing the Veteran with an examination to determine if his current hip and knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability, right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and chronic bronchitis is granted as his current diagnosed lumbosacral spine disc disease was aggravated by in-service combat-related trauma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and determining whether his hip or knee disabilities may be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and the need for VA examinations to determine if current knee or back disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot, hip, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability related to service. The VA examiners opined that these conditions are not linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a hearing before the Board. The claims of service connection for left knee disability as secondary to right knee disability and for an initial compensable rating for right knee disability are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability was permanently aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for his preexisting left knee disorder that has been aggravated during service. The Veteran also has a newly diagnosed left total knee arthroplasty due to the aggravation of his preexisting condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claims for back and knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination to determine the etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's sinusitis with residuals of sinus surgery is now rated at the maximum schedular evaluation (50%) effective December 2, 2011. The other issues remain denied.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current left knee disability to his in-service injuries, and thus denied his claim for service connection.