Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it can be linked to his in-service noise exposure. The Board has found that the Veteran has current joint pain of the legs, knees, arms, and hands which had its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the January 2001 and October 2002 rating decisions does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the service connection claims.,As such, all new and material evidence claims have been denied.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for nose disorder, psychiatric disability, right knee disability, and sinusitis. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is being remanded.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines. The left and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, reflecting their respective conditions. The left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for loss of motion with a separate 20 percent rating for instability. The right knee disability is also rated at 20 percent for loss of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The claims will be further developed and considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including assigning a 100 percent rating based on total knee replacement and obtaining VA examination to determine the nature and extent of any residuals.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete medical records and need for a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected condition. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings and TDIU will be held in abeyance pending the outcome of this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee condition was aggravated during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 20 percent for each service-connected knee disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, ulcer disorder, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorder to include gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, low back disorder, hypertension, muscle disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral vascular disease and swelling, potassium deficiency, joint disorder, GERD, gallbladder disorder, bladder cancer, respiratory disorder to include asthma, chronic airway obstruction, shortness of breath, chest pain, and allergic disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.,The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, low back disorder, hypertension, muscle disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral vascular disease and swelling, potassium deficiency, joint disorder, GERD, gallbladder disorder, bladder cancer, respiratory disorder to include asthma, chronic airway obstruction, shortness of breath, chest pain, and allergic disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a hearing, and he subsequently withdrew the appeals of his increased rating claims. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as a new orthopedic examination. The TDIU claim has also been raised and must be adjudicated.

The Veteran's condition meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to his disabilities, including leg pain, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, right hip strain with chronic pain and limitation of motion (LOM), status post operative repair, tear medial meniscus and osteochondritis dissecans right knee with chronic pain, degenerative arthritis with LOM in flexion and extension with incomplete extension, status post operative total knee replacement left knee with chronic pain, diffuse degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with partial lumbarization of S1 with chronic pain, and varying LOM. The Veteran is legally blind and requires assistance for daily activities such as cooking.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including clarification of the VA examiner's opinions regarding his service connection claims and a new examination if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA examination and treatment records, as well as a Statement of the Case for his right ankle disorder claim. The claims will then be readjudicated based on all evidence.