Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal due to satisfaction with her current 100 percent combined disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues remain on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's claims for high blood pressure/hypertension and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability and chronic headache. The original denial of these claims is now considered on their merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee strain has not resulted in symptoms more nearly approximating compensable limitation of flexion or extension, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, other impairment, ankylosis, or dislocated semilunar cartilage. There is no arthritis in the right knee.

The Board denied separate compensable ratings for right and left knee disabilities, finding that no distinct pathology existed beyond the Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by any period of active duty or reservist service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the issues of increased ratings for right knee chondromalacia, right tibial plateau lateral meniscus, postoperative residuals and right knee degenerative arthritis (instability).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the scheduling of VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, detrusor instability, interstitial cystitis and tri-compartmental osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability of DJD based on continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about the adequacy of the May 2011 VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have consistently precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since February 2000, with the exception of a brief period in June 2010 to May 2012 when he was employed.

The Veteran's right knee disability, following total knee replacement surgery in 2006, produced chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion and weakness. The Board has granted a 60 percent rating from October 1, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of his claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his left knee and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals from a left femur fracture with shortening of the left lower extremity and left knee degenerative joint disease have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims, but it is unclear whether the conditions are related to his active military service due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for PTSD, stomach disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, traumatic head/brain injury, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, or left inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair is denied.