Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied both the cause of death claim and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between service-connected bilateral foot disability and other claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete rationale in a previous VA examination and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee arthroplasties do not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as to address the relationship between in-service marching, running, and low crawling and his diagnosed patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for calcification of the left medial collateral ligament was granted. However, his claims for a compensable rating for instability of the left knee and TDIU prior to April 23, 2015 were denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been granted, with the left knee disability rated at 10 percent and both right ankle and sciatica disabilities also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, finding that his disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty. The claim of non-cancerous fatty tumors remains pending as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing they are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Board found that the preexisting left knee disability was not aggravated by service. Service connection is also granted for a right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for right knee, right thumb, gastrointestinal disabilities, and residuals of broken teeth, all claimed as secondary to service-connected left knee disability. However, it did not find sufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain post-service treatment records and military retiree records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU, effective September 28, 2008.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, conduct new examinations for his service-connected disabilities, and determine the etiology of any diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and relevant private treatment records, and affording the Veteran a VA examination.