Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further review by the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected knee disabilities preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing proper notice of secondary service connection and obtaining a VA addendum medical opinion regarding whether any diagnosed knee disability is as likely as not due to or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and further development is needed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and articular chondrocalcinosis of the knees are not related to his service, including his parachute jumps. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent, the maximum available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Knee. The claim for service connection for a left ankle condition was granted.

The Board has granted reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension, left and right knee disabilities, bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and neck disability. The evidence submitted since the last denial supports a finding that these conditions were incurred in or are related to service.

The Veteran's combined rating is 90 percent, with service-connected disabilities rated as 80 percent for the left hand and arm, 20 percent each for the knees and feet, and 10 percent for right hernial nerve palsy. The Board finds that no effective function remains in the left hand, arm, foot or leg other than what would be equally well served by an amputation with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.,The Veteran is found to need aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to inadequate medical opinion regarding continuity of symptomatology after discharge, as well as potential preexisting left knee injury.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is found to have had its onset in service, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The rating for sickle cell anemia remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been rated as noncompensable, but his left knee disability has been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.,His service-connected right hand disability and resulting scar are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2011. The Board granted TDIU benefits based on the evidence showing that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to work.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease is dismissed. The Board finds that service connection for a left knee disability is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the need to consider all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the February 1997 rating decision. The criteria for service connection have been met, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and bilateral knee arthritis are due to active service or, in the case of bilateral knee arthritis, are secondary to now service-connected bilateral pes planus. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, hearing loss disability, prostate disorder, and psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's hypertension is presumed service connected due to Agent Orange exposure. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current hypertension is related to his military service or blood pressure readings in service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to noise exposure during service, but the examiner should also consider whether any current hearing loss disability manifested within one year of separation from service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's prostate disorder may be due to Agent Orange exposure, but the examiner should also consider whether any other diagnosed prostate disorder is related to his military service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that he has a current prostate disorder and if so, whether such disorder is related to his military service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability may be due to PTSD or another diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including DJD, is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected left knee disability or has been aggravated by it.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected dermatitis.