Knee decisions — 2016

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability did not manifest in service and does not have a nexus to his active duty. The left leg and knee disability is also not shown to be related to service or due to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of flexion has been granted. The TDIU issue is part of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. The right and left ankle disabilities have been remanded for further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder and lower back disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, cervical spine, right shoulder, and bilateral foot disabilities are all service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient records and providing an addendum opinion from an orthopedist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for burns to the hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a sleep disorder. The issues regarding back, right knee, right shoulder, left shoulder disorders, and left knee disorder were reconsidered but also denied on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and TDIU due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations, which were necessary to evaluate his reopened claim. The Veteran did not provide adequate notice of the regulation or demonstrate good cause for failing to report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since October 19, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities and obtaining treatment records from the Navy Hospital at Mucosa.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 18, 2009 and for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and military personnel records, as well as a VA examination. The issues are whether the Veteran has a bilateral foot disability and/or a bilateral leg/knee disability that is related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee replacement and associated conditions, has been rated at 100% since December 8, 2010. The rating will remain at 100% until July 1, 2014 when it was reduced to 30%.

The Board has determined that the issues on appeal are more appropriately characterized as service connection claims. The Veteran's left knee and ankle disorders have been remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records, including VA treatment records and physical therapy records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and associated complications, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person to manage his insulin pump and administer insulin.

The Board determined that there is no current diagnosis for a right knee disability, and the left knee injury during service did not result in chronic residuals. The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms were noted but no specific diagnoses of anxiety or insomnia were found.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess her knee conditions and migraine headaches. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering the appropriate diagnostic codes.