Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has ordered a remand due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to his service-connected left ankle fracture. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee disability, migraine headaches, and hypertension. The Veteran's appeals for ischemic heart disease, sleep apnea, and GERD are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The decision also addressed a chronic right leg disorder but did not specify its basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequacies in previous VA opinions and the need for additional evidence, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, notification regarding secondary theories of entitlement, and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for low back disability, finding that his current condition was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability. The Veteran was granted service connection for rheumatic valvulitis, but this is not relevant to the current appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current diagnosis of mild degenerative joint disease of the left knee is considered as part of his original condition, which may be considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is service connected. The left knee degenerative arthritis, claimed as secondary to the right knee degenerative arthritis, will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, to include degenerative joint disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Board also found that the residuals of a broken nose, including loss of smell, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his skin disorder.,The Veteran's back disorder (including scoliosis and sacroiliitis) claim requires additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or pre-existing defects aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right knee disorder claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current right leg/knee disorders, including sleep apnea.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim requires an opinion on whether it is related to service. The pes planus claim is also remanded as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his active military service, granting him entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability, which he contends was caused by a left leg fracture sustained while on duty in Germany. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records and conduct an orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hypertension, mitral valve disorder, post-concussion syndrome (residuals of TBI), restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, left ankle disorder, left hip disorder, or right knee disorder. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee degenerative joint disease, a low back disability, hemangiomas (claimed as brain and spinal tumors), headaches, hepatitis C, and a respiratory disorder, have been denied. The appeal is based on new evidence received to reopen service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not result in a limitation of flexion to 45 degrees or limitation of extension to 10 degrees prior to May 4, 2004. From September 29, 2002, to May 3, 2004, the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability resulted in severe instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right thigh SFWs, neuroma of the right saphenous nerve, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, malaria, and donor scars of the left thigh, so without regards to other factors such as his age and non-service-connected disabilities, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining employment even sedentary work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg/knee disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence of the condition and that the current disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder and left knee disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to active service, including a motor vehicle accident in December 1990.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of poor circulation and swelling of legs and knees were not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims.