Knee decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is due to multiple post-service injuries and not related to his service, thus denying service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran failed to report for several VA examinations scheduled in November 2012, which prevented a determination on his claims. The evidence does not support service connection for osteoporosis, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disorder, or low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, low back disorder (claimed as secondary to right knee disorder), and respiratory disorders are not related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, and left knee disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.,There is no evidence of any in-service symptoms or injury that could lead to the current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a review of the Veteran's claims file and an orthopedic examination to address secondary service connection by aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees have been remanded due to inadequate November 2012 VA examination, incomplete treatment records from January 2012 to present, and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and ensuring all records are associated with the claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and bilateral hip disabilities are not service-connected, with no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left and right knees have been evaluated at 10 percent each, but his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed thoracolumbar, cervical spine disorders, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent, and his lumbar spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea on the basis that it is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The issues of service connection for heart disorder and Lyme disease, as well as an initial compensable rating for right knee strain are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. However, the Veteran's current right knee disorder was not shown to have manifested during or within one year after his military service, nor is there any medical evidence linking it to service. The Board therefore denied the claim of service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and finds that her current right and left knee disabilities are related to her military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to address his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the back, hips, and knees is granted. The claims for increased ratings for residuals of a fracture of the left little finger and major depressive disorder are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from a specific date range and seeking supplemental clinical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for right tarsal tunnel syndrome and left tarsal tunnel syndrome, status-post release. The evidence did not show that the Veteran had current diagnoses related to these disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, arthritis of the hips, arthritis of the knees, a sinus disability, a low back disability, and headaches. The claims are therefore denied.