Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a left knee disability, cause of death, nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and burial benefits. Additional development is required to address these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, knee disorders, and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service and cannot be linked to his service-connected cold injury residuals. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the knees, cervical spine, and low back as not related to active service.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee has been granted. The issue of whether his left knee disability is related to his right knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her claim, including obtaining private and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's request for a hearing has been granted, and his case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development including scheduling of a videoconference hearing with a VJA.

The Board has reopened the claims for left knee disability, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim of bilateral hearing loss remains denied as new evidence does not show a current disability for VA purposes. The Veteran's eye condition (glaucoma) is also being remanded for further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not manifest in service and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, particularly those involving the right foot and lumbar spine. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and review of his Vocational Rehabilitation file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right knee disability or bilateral shin splints, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for left ankle disability remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his period of service, and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a current liver disorder or any other chronic liver condition during service or within one year post-service, and thus does not warrant service connection.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 16, 2009, and the Board grants TDIU effective from June 30, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected right knee disability was denied as the VA Under Secretary for Health determined that the knee brace did not tend to wear or tear clothing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her right knee disability.

The Veteran is granted service connection for obesity, secondary to her service-connected right knee disability. She is also granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.,The Board found that the Veteran's obesity was caused by or aggravated by her service-connected right knee disability and that she is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have been granted, with the right knee instability and chondromalacia rated at 20 percent effective March 27, 2015. The left knee instability and chondromalacia are also rated at 20 percent effective that date.