Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for left wrist, low back, and right knee disorders. The Veteran's other service connection claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the proposed reductions in disability ratings for degenerative disc disease with herniated discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and right knee chondritis of the patella were not supported by evidence showing material improvement under ordinary conditions of daily life.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran's current disability was noted, but no opinion regarding its etiology during service or otherwise was provided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the current severity of his low back and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service and any relevant treatment records. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability, including instability related to his posterior cruciate ligament.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for stenosis, spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees. Service connection was denied for a bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran's DJD, left knee, status-post total left knee replacement is found to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims except for service connection for a psychiatric disability and alcoholism. The remaining claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's gout and arthritis of the hips, knees, and ankles were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive conditions.,The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's sleep apnea to his service-connected PTSD.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuritis, gout (hyperuricemia), and heart disability (biventricular hypertrophy), were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and DJD of the right knee were denied. The VA found that the disabilities did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, with no functional impairment or additional limitation due to pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete evidence. The Veteran is required to provide information about any private or VA treatment he may have had for his right eye, bilateral ankle/feet, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, and carpel tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee tendonitis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims.