Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected right knee disability and nasal varix with recurrent nose bleeds.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as there was no pending claim prior to January 28, 2007.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative disease with locking and crepitus has been manifested by pain, tenderness, weakness, crepitus, guarding of movement, some limitation of flexion but with flexion greater than 30 degrees. The Board finds that the disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Baylor Regional Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas on May 4, 2010 and June 1, 2010 due to lack of prior authorization from VA.,Both emergency room visits were deemed not related to an emergent situation.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, and thus new and material evidence has not been received.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder. The Veteran is required to report for any scheduled examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and is not proximately etiologically related to, or aggravated by, any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected, as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms or injury during service. The disabilities were also not shown to be caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of any right knee, left knee, right hip, and/or left hip disability found to be present.

The Board denied increased ratings for chondromalacia of the right patella with thigh atrophy and left knee strain, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee arthritis. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying service dates and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 10 percent rating effective June 28, 2011. The compensable evaluation for the status post left inguinal herniorraphy remains unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, is not related to any incident of service, and is not a result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is attributable to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as his respiratory condition. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee disability and hypertension. The case will be returned for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is found to be the cause or aggravation of his left lower extremity neuropathy, right knee disability, cervical muscle strain, and carpal tunnel syndromes. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has also been granted as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal and it is dismissed.