Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's right knee disorder and right foot disability are under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records. The right knee disability, including a torn medial meniscus, needs to be evaluated again.

The Veteran's low back disability, arthritis in the hands and knees, and sleep disorder are all found to have origins in his active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and coronary artery disease. The remaining issues have been denied.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently found disability of the left knee, as it relates to service connection.

The Veteran is granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral knee constipation secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection for a lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hip, or bilateral knee disabilities are not established.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and a headache disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to increased ratings for his right knee conditions. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either the ACL disruption with tear of the lateral meniscus or limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for chondromalacia/degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, concluding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and knee disorders. The VA examination report must be supplemented with an addendum, and all relevant records should be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by service. Service connection was also granted for a low back disability, but the examiner did not provide an opinion on whether it was proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration due to outstanding records, including service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin, lung, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's knee and lumbar spine disabilities are rated at the lowest possible level due to their current functional limitations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as he is able to perform sedentary work and only limited weight-bearing jobs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding her service connection claim for a left knee disability, including consideration of all raised theories of entitlement. She will also be given an opportunity to perfect her appeal if she chooses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome or any other qualifying chronic disability that could be presumed due to undiagnosed illness in the Gulf War environment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis), and left knee disability. The evidence received since the prior final denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.