Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease and above-the-knee amputation of his right lower extremity are both secondary to his service-connected hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic thoracic lumbar strain, right knee patellar femoral syndrome, and left knee patellar femoral syndrome. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for sleep apnea, but denied for other conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder strain was not found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and verifying a stressor event.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disorder during service and concluded that the current condition is not related to military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for right knee instability from August 16, 2006 to November 14, 2013.,From January 1, 2015, the Veteran is entitled to a 60 percent disability rating for her right knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee traumatic arthritis, left heel plantar fasciitis, and hemorrhoids were denied. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder and left knee disorder did not manifest within one year of service separation, and there is no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection. The disorders are considered to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee strains have been granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his military service and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of increased disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities, as well as the associated TDIU claim and several reopened claims, were denied due to her failure without good cause to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal involves two main issues: the request for increased evaluations for his right knee disability and seeking an earlier effective date for service connection. The case is being remanded to allow further development, including scheduling a review examination.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his hearing loss disability and left knee degenerative joint disease, as well as TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 2, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disorder, and for further development as requested.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain Social Security Administration records and for further development. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for neck pain and right knee disorder, but granted left knee patellofemoral syndrome with a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his bilateral knee pain and spine disability.