Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee sprain with chondromalacia. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examination report and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a left knee disability, finding that the new evidence submitted was not sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, including asbestosis and mesothelioma was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for mesothelioma, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and depression.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis has been manifested by complaints of pain and limited flexion, at most to 70 degrees. The service-connected left knee disability includes a meniscal tear with symptoms such as repeated effusion, pain, locking, and swelling.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain with chondromalacia and scars, assigning a 20 percent rating effective from June 10, 2013 to October 29, 2013. The Veteran's other claims were not addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a lumbar strain and assigned an initial 20 percent rating effective from January 1, 2013. The Veteran's headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling, effective from April 2014. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee or left hand numbness condition attributable to his military service and therefore denied both issues of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

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

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence to support it. However, the claims for psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C residuals, thoracolumbar spine disorder, headaches, neck disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or sufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, resulting in a denial.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an inadequate VA medical opinion, and further development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral feet, ankle, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The current rating for hypertension is also on hold.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic depression, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to October 23, 2002, or degenerative arthritis of the left knee prior to October 6, 1999.

The Board found that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease was made permanently worse by his service-connected left total knee replacement, and granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and eye conditions are related to service. The claim is granted.