Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders. A medical examination is needed to determine if his current knee conditions are as likely as not related to his service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records from SSA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities were denied. The RO/AMC found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and low back disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee disability, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee disability and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had other disabilities, but did not grant service connection for them.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations were appropriate, and no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow arthritis, right knee ligament repair residuals and arthritis, and right ankle fracture residuals have been granted with initial noncompensable evaluations effective July 1, 2005. The RO increased the evaluation for his right elbow arthritis to 10 percent in October 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of service records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, depressive disorder, arthralgias in multiple joints, headaches, and fatigue, idiopathic fasciculation (muscle twitching), tinnitus, chondromalacia patella of the bilateral knees, left shoulder tendonitis, post-operative scar tissue, and chronic sinusitis with nosebleeds, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a bilateral knee disability and skin conditions, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, anxiety disorder, and residuals of a left ankle injury. The claim for a bilateral knee disability was previously denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability or link to service. The claims for anxiety disorder and left ankle injury were not established as they did not have inception during service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes arthritis and a history of meniscal tear with removal of cartilage, is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5259. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarifying opinions from VA examiners regarding the issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current knee disability, as well as whether any pre-existing knee condition was aggravated by his active duty in 2003-2004.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic skin disorder in service or until decades after service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hip or knee disability and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.