Knee decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material and did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and knee conditions, have rendered her unable to care for herself without the assistance of another. The Board finds that she requires aid and attendance due to her cognitive dysfunction and multiple falling episodes.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability, which the Board finds is solely based on direct service connection. The case must be remanded to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding whether the current right knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive features is granted, and the claims for right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limitation of motion, was found to warrant a 10 percent evaluation prior to June 10, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing. The issues are about service connection for his right knee condition and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is directly related to his military service and grants service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating his claim under the appropriate rating criteria.

The Veteran's right knee surgery residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,His post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, a left ankle disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease that would support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip and left knee disorders are not related to service or a service-connected disability, but rather are due to his morbid obesity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease or trochanteric bursitis related to his service. As such, he is denied service connection for these conditions.,There is no evidence of any hip disorder in service or within one year post-service, and there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current left thigh condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome was denied, and the issue of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, status-post ACL reconstruction, is currently rated at 20 percent and his migraine headaches are not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of ulcerative proctitis, which is essentially a variant of ulcerative colitis already established as service-connected. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of hearing loss, chest condition, left foot condition, and migraines prior to a decision being made by the Board.