Knee Board decisions

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

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from November 26, 2008. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is part and parcel of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disorder, including after a total knee arthroplasty, were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, right eardrum disorder, knee disorder, vertigo, dizziness, and wrist fractures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and a right knee condition, finding no evidence of treatment or diagnosis during military service.

The Board has directed the VA to obtain additional treatment records from the Orlando VAMC. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's knees and lumbar spine to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when combined as a single disability, do not meet the threshold percentage standards for TDIU. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran is capable of performing sedentary work with certain limitations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an opinion on whether the service-connected disabilities render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between current disabilities and service. The Veteran's complaints of pain in joints are being evaluated again by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for disability manifested by joint pain in the bilateral ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows. The joints with arthralgia (ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows) are considered to have no known clinical diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the claim is still pending as it requires further development before being readjudicated on its merits.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his private hospitalization from November 19, 2008 to November 20, 2008 is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are not causally related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and left knee have been remanded due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial, and additional development is needed including obtaining VA treatment records, SSA records, and an opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, including arthritis, was incurred in service and is related to his military duties as a lineman. The Veteran also has PTSD which he contends was caused by his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. Without an examination, the Board cannot determine if the claimed conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions, complete the necessary development of his claims, and provide him with a new examination.

The Board granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as bilateral varicose veins. Service connection was denied for a right ankle disability, varicose veins of the lower extremities (except for the knees), and a left hand disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected heart disability, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and lumbar spine degenerative changes were denied. The Veteran was not granted any higher ratings than the current 10 percent assigned.