Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left and right knees was found to have onset in service, and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for either a right knee condition or a headache disorder, as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, left ankle, low back, respiratory, and throat disabilities due to a lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee disabilities, or lumbar fusion disability. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as there is insufficient clinical evidence to support this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right knee disability and Hepatitis C. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, back disability, right hip disability, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 22, 2009 for the award of a 30 percent rating for right knee strain with degenerative joint disease. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition is reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disorder and flu shot residuals, to include residuals of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred an in-service injury of a flu shot which resulted in his development of GBS, from which he has current residuals.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to have its onset in service or be related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the issue as it was not properly before them due to withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred during service and is not related to her right knee disability. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the March 2011 VA examination. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is rated at 50 percent since December 10, 2010. The Board has also granted service connection for his back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service connected as it did not manifest during active duty or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's low back disability and his active service. The examiner opined that the current condition was more likely caused by injuries sustained while playing basketball after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for further development of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, both to include as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left distal tibia and fibula fracture.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to in-service injuries. The thyroid disorder claim remains pending as an addendum opinion is needed from the VA examiner. Service connection for sleep apnea and migraine headaches was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination of the Veteran's right knee. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.