Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's upper and lower back disorders, left knee disorder, right hip and left hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease. The effective date is August 25, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, and therefore, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability, including as secondary to service-connected right total knee arthroplasty associated with lateral meniscal tear of the right knee with degenerative arthritis (right knee disability).,Service connection is granted for a left knee disability as secondary to service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection is also granted for a left hip disability as secondary to service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is at least as likely as not etiologically related to his service-connected left knee disability, and he has also been granted service connection for Hodgkin's disease due to exposure to hazardous chemicals in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a hearing before the Board at his local office. The claims of service connection for hypertension, kidney disability, and bilateral knee disability are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to include obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and a bilateral knee examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining records from SSA, VA treatment records, and opinions regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected back strain and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's left knee disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after discharge and no medical opinion linking the condition to service. Service connection for lung cancer is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a prostate disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and right knee condition. The decision also noted that some evidence received since the March 2007 rating decision was new and material to reopen the claim for left hip disorder.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and clarification of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain and right knee patellar chondromalacia did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to October 23, 2000.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee and right ankle disabilities, including arthritis and gout, were not incurred in service and are not related to active duty service. The VA examination report supported this conclusion.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 90%, which satisfies the criteria for a TDIU. The evidence shows that the Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for reentrance into a vocational rehabilitation services program was denied as he is currently capable of performing his job position and the occupation itself is suitable to his current needs.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence, particularly regarding secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease, bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg disability (other than peripheral vascular disease), and back disability. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and granted service connection for this condition. The skin rash was not found to be related to service, and thus denied. Migraine headaches were also granted service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus with chondrocalcinosis and arthritis, is rated at 10 percent. The Board granted an increased rating for instability of the left knee.