Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding whether a patella fracture in service could lead to current knee conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is found to be aggravated by his service-connected shrapnel wound, right foot, with degenerative joint disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a Baker's cyst of the right knee, a right knee disability, gout of the right foot, and proteinuria. The claim for myeloproliferative disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the need for an updated opinion considering all service-connected disabilities, including non-service-connected conditions. The examiner must also provide examples of employment the Veteran would be qualified for with his current level of disability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disorders, as well as whether any current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability and has determined that new evidence supports this reopening, with the opinion being in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated as noncompensable due to the lack of ankylosis, limitation of motion, instability, or other significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral knee disorder have been granted service connection. However, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his chronic bilateral tendonitis or residuals of anal fissure with hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since the initial rating period, and no higher. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and low back disabilities are not related to his active service, with no aggravation of a pre-existing condition during service.

The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance or render him housebound, thus he is entitled to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy or left knee disability, and these conditions are not related to service. The claims for service connection for both conditions are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to non-service connected conditions, such as his renal failure requiring dialysis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and whether his service-connected gout or lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated it.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is not etiologically related to active service, and his claimed sinus polyps and deviated septum, bilateral arthritis of the knees, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing proper notice on secondary service connection and obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left ankle disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, but reopened the claim of service connection for a back disorder. Service connection was not established for any condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various ankle, foot, knee, and wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.