Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for high cholesterol and hypertension has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.,Service connection is granted for bilateral knee disabilities, with the Board finding that the evidence supports the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability. However, the evidence does not establish a link between the current right knee disability and service.

The Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities are not service-connected, but the claim for right knee disability has been reopened. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of secondary or aggravation by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her right knee and right ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until the increased rating claims are adjudicated.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to a service injury, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder (DJD) and migraine headaches, but denied the Veteran's claims for other conditions. The left knee DJD was found to be related to service due to its onset within one year of retirement from service. Migraine headaches were also found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and inadequate rationale for a previous VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed with new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The appeal seeking a TDIU rating was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and eye disability.

The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a right knee disorder, as it is due to normal aging and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's back disability is related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining treatment records from correctional facilities. The issues of service connection for right knee disability and left knee disability (claimed as secondary to the right knee) are pending.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee to 40 percent effective August 1, 2010.

The Board has decided that the case needs further development to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and whether it was caused or aggravated by this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The Veteran has a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis status post lateral meniscectomy but not for his hip strain. He also received a separate rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage from December 14, 2009 through January 15, 2014. However, he was denied higher ratings for left knee status post total arthroplasty.

The Veteran's combined rating for all service-connected disabilities is 80 percent, meeting the threshold criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that he is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful occupation due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral vision loss, a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disorder and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the reductions of the Veteran's left knee disability ratings from 20% to 10% were improper and void, as there was no material improvement in his condition. The original rating for the left knee medial meniscectomy is restored at 20%, effective May 1, 2011, and the rating for left knee instability is also restored at 20%, effective May 1, 2011.