Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and an examination to determine the current nature, extent, and etiology of his prostate disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension were denied. The current schedular ratings are deemed adequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed right knee, right hand, respiratory, or nervous disorders and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of headaches and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran seeks a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability. The RO/AMC is directed to obtain all pertinent VA and private records, schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination, and then readjudicate the claim.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, hip, and knee disabilities. The case is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining records from Dr. Amberg and scheduling the Veteran for an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee instability prior to May 4, 2006 was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities were denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without good cause, which is necessary to establish these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that is related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is likely due to his service-connected right knee disability, and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis. The low back disorder issue remains pending as there are no clear findings or evidence provided in the decision.

Service connection for a left knee disorder, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during military service.,The VA examinations did not find any medical relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disabilities were denied. The RO assigned separate noncompensable evaluations for each disability effective from October 1, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right knee and low back disorders, both secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, have been timely perfected. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also considered timely.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to excessive noise. His claims for other conditions are denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability or residuals of a chest wall injury that is related to service. The appeal for these claims is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for an increased disability rating for scars of the right mid back of neck. The Board is unable to readjudicate the remaining claims as it lacks jurisdiction over them.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for service connection for a left eye stye and right ankle strain has been withdrawn. The remaining service connection claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.