Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claim for residuals of a right knee injury. The decision is based on new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left knee and ankle disabilities, which he claims are related to his active military service. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the lack of definitive opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for arthritis of the right knee and a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus. The appeal has been remanded to obtain additional medical evidence, including complete service treatment records and an updated VA examination. Additionally, TDIU will be considered based on the current severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and leg disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted separate 10 percent evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the left knee in April 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered to be permanent in nature, thus failing the eligibility criteria for dependent's educational assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the failure of a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for disorders of the right knee and shoulder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder as secondary to service-connected right ankle disabilities, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for disorders of the right knee and shoulder are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking any current disabilities, including back injury, shrapnel wounds, and arthritis of the hands and knees, to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's Alzheimer's disease is not found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board also determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left wrist disabilities, were not incurred in service. The Board found that arthritis of the knees and wrists did not manifest within one year following separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds that the Veteran's current back pain is related to his military service. The claim for left knee disability, skin disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and hepatitis B was not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding service connection for disabilities of the left knee and low back has been withdrawn. The issue of a compensable initial rating for right shoulder disability is being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, but it is at least in equipoise whether VA care contributed to his death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted.

The Veteran's claimed left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board finds the Veteran's statements regarding his injuries to be inconsistent with the record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability. The Veteran's statements regarding his back pain since active service, along with medical records showing diagnoses of degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and left knee arthritis, are sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, which includes a medial meniscal tear and degenerative changes, is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and right knee strain, finding that these conditions were aggravated by active service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hip strain and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).