Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability and the current severity of the service-connected scar.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, but granted service connection on a direct basis due to evidence of arthritis following bilateral knee replacements.

The Veteran was awarded a higher initial rating for his mood disorder and the criteria for an increased rating were not met for other conditions.,The Veteran's left knee disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating prior to December 22, 2004, and thereafter. The right wrist and left wrist disabilities also did not meet the criteria for increased ratings as they are already at their maximum evaluations under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorders and ankle, hand, knee, and hip issues. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings for his service-connected musculoligamentous strain of the right knee and lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's effective date for a 20 percent evaluation of his right ankle disability is granted as February 1, 2002. His claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to locate her service treatment records and obtain private and VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's right knee strain with minimal degenerative changes has been rated at 10 percent since November 21, 2007. The evidence shows that the Veteran's range of motion is limited to 90 degrees flexion and 4 degrees extension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reduction of his disability rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period, including after the reduction in May 2005.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee injury during service and concluded that the current left knee disorder is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination for service connection of back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct link to service. The heart disability claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of her service-connected bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome as well as any chronic low and middle back, shoulder, and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not found to be related to service or Agent Orange exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and whether it was proximately caused by the September 2005 VA total knee arthroplasty. The issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left lower extremity and a TDIU are inextricably intertwined with the issue being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his hypertension and right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, ulcer and upper gastric pain (to include as secondary to cholelithiasis), and fungus infection of the right ear are all granted.