Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee conditions are being remanded due to inadequacies in the July 2010 VA examination, including a lack of consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the VA examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is now pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his employment difficulties are attributed to non-service-connected factors and he does not meet the schedular requirements for a total rating.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his osteoarthritis of the left knee status post total knee replacement did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right knee disability, including instability and arthritis. The issue of whether separate evaluations for limitation of flexion and extension due to arthritis are appropriate will also be addressed.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the appellant's right knee disability, which was initially service-connected during ACDUTRA. The new opinion must consider all relevant evidence of record and determine if the current disability is related to the injury sustained during basic training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the recent revisions to 38 C.F.R. � 3.304(f)(3).

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he is no longer alive.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right knee disability, as well as whether any service-connected conditions are related to his active duty or National Guard service. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination for these purposes.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed and a VA examination is required to determine the current nature of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities, as well as their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on the current rating criteria, with no new or higher ratings granted.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, as well as claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders. The Board has determined that these issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of new and material evidence for the bilateral flat feet claim. As such, all related claims must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, his claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and abdominal abscess, status post appendectomy can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids resulted in persistent bleeding with fissures, warranting a 20 percent rating for the period prior to February 17, 2010.,For his right knee disability, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating effective from February 17, 2010.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis status post shoulder replacement is granted service connection. The Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis was not incurred during active duty service and is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active service and denied all of his claims.

The Board found no competent medical evidence showing a current left knee disability related to the Veteran's military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was rated at 50 percent, but the Board found no evidence of respiratory failure or right ventricle pathology. The left knee disorder and right hand strain were both rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's initial ratings for his musculoskeletal disorders did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, rated as 30% disabling since May 1, 2009, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.