Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claimed additional disabilities of the neck, lower back, right knee, and right shoulder are not deemed to be caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including those related to his right knee disorder, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not have a left ear hearing loss disability and his service-connected left knee, elbow, and cubital tunnel syndromes do not meet the criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, left ankle, right ankle, and left foot disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, compliance with VCAA requirements, and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a clarification of whether any current right knee disorder is aggravated by service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes obtaining medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and determining whether any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including the provision of a VA examination to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a vascular surgeon's opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and diagnosed atherosclerosis of the lower extremities constitute a single disease entity. The issues remain about entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, as his combined rating is 40 percent and does not meet the schedular requirements. The Board finds that the Veteran's unemployability is due to a pre-existing work accident rather than his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and fatigue. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hiccups and muscular twitching of the eyes, and multiple joint pain affecting the hands, wrists, fingers, knees, and ankles (including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to insufficient VA examination reports considering all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee on the basis of aggravation during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic low back disability was not incurred in service and is not secondary to his service-connected left knee internal derangement with traumatic DJD. The claim for a left foot disability was denied as well.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective September 28, 2010. The Veteran previously had a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis based on noncompensable limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's joint pain, chronic fatigue, and headaches are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder and psychotic features.