Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection, initial ratings, and earlier effective date are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or chronic disability related to the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and ankle disorders. The service treatment records do not show any complaints, diagnoses, or treatment for these conditions during his military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves three issues: a claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left leg, a request for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, and a dispute over the effective date for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The case is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and knee disabilities. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee traumatic arthritis, patellar tendonitis, and meniscus tear warrant a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no medical evidence of a current disability. The Veteran has already been granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran is entitled to additional vocational rehabilitation services under Chapter 31, Title 38 of the United States Code due to his current occupation being closely related to his Individualized Employment Assistance Plan and necessitating the authorized training.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right great toe and left knee disabilities, as well as to request relevant VA outpatient records from 1990 through the present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The claims of service connection for cancer surgery and reopening the claim for left tibia/left knee osteocondroma will be addressed after scheduling a new hearing.

The Veteran is granted service connection for sensitivity to hot and cold as a residual of dental trauma to six upper teeth, right and left. Service connection is denied for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the claim for a TDIU. This includes obtaining all relevant medical records, conducting an appropriate examination, and ensuring compliance with due process requirements.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA facilities, determining potential herbicide exposure outside Vietnam, scheduling VA examinations for right hand and knee disabilities, and a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities first manifested during active duty service, are related to his military service, and have persisted since then. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation for any portion of the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to further development of evidence being required. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather increased disability ratings for various knee and ankle conditions.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees and shoulders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected gastric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is pending further development.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have not been found to warrant higher evaluations, with the exception of a separate compensable evaluation for osteoarthritis prior to December 7, 2000.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for chondromalacia patella, and a separate 10 percent evaluation has been granted for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.