Knee Board decisions

The Veteran claims his cervicothoracic spine disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and severity of his left knee impairment at the time of the motor vehicle accident.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease and assigned a 20 percent disability rating effective from June 21, 2002.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, hip, and low back disorders. The Board finds that further development is necessary to determine the nature of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The appeal is not yet decided on its merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, PTSD, and a left knee disorder due to issues regarding evidence corroborating the Veteran's claimed stressors in Vietnam. The petitions to reopen the claims for skin disorder and calluses on the feet are also being remanded to obtain VA medical records from specific facilities.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a current right knee disability related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an eye disorder, and it is now considered. The bilateral blepharitis is found to be due to disease or injury that was incurred in active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is granted. It is found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder, and it is now considered. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is shown to be linked events that as likely as not happened during his period of active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is granted. It is found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a sleep disorder.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a disability manifested by multiple joint pains, and it is now considered. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is shown to be linked events that as likely as not happened during his period of active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is granted. It is found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, and it is now considered. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is shown to be linked events that as likely as not happened during his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, including spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine with right radiculopathy, chondromalacia of the right knee, recurrent peptic ulcer disease, incomplete paralysis of the right sciatic nerve associated with the lumbar spine disability, and hemorrhoids. The case is remanded for an appropriate VA examination to determine the effects of all service-connected disabilities on his ability to maintain and retain employment, as well as for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(b).

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran did not experience chronic symptoms of a right knee disorder in service and has not experienced continuous symptoms since service. The initial rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Veteran's low back and bilateral leg disabilities are not service-connected. The Board finds no evidence of a current bilateral hip disability.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected low back disability and found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and foot conditions are not related to her active service. The effective date of this decision is March 26, 2007.

The Board has determined that there was substantial compliance with the prior remand directives, but another remand is necessary due to new evidence and discrepancies in previous examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The Board also determined that it did not have its clinical onset within the first post-service year and arthritis of the right knee could not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement, finding all relevant evidence necessary to decide the Veteran's appeal regarding this issue has been obtained and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claim for service connection for left knee disorder is pending as there are no medical nexus opinions provided.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral knee fractures and residuals of bilateral ankle fractures, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain. The Board found that there was no current disability of the knees or ankles, and thus could not grant service connection. The claim for an earlier effective date for lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,New evidence has not been received to reopen previously denied claims of fibromyalgia, right knee disability, gastritis, vertigo with syncope, stomach ulcers, or a heart condition.

The Board has determined that the matter must be remanded for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and further analysis of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a cold injury and tinnitus, but denied the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and COPD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.