Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination of his right knee disorder and hypertension/Coronary artery disease. The TDIU claim will also be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the TDIU claim prior to October 21, 2014.

The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his bilateral knee condition, neck condition, PTSD, and all other acquired psychiatric disorders. The RO will also make efforts to corroborate the Veteran's testimony regarding a parachuting accident in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for all issues except the entitlement to an extended period of a temporary total rating for convalescence status-post total right knee replacement, which has been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for neck disorder and lumbar spine disorder have been reopened, but the evidence does not support service connection.,The Veteran's claim for right knee disorder has been reopened, but the evidence does not support service connection.,The Veteran's claim for neurogenic bladder has been reopened, and it is related to a now service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the bilateral hips, and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees. The Board finds that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knees did not have its onset during military service and is not etiologically related to his in-service knee injuries. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The initial rating assigned was appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for stress fractures of the tibia and femur adjacent to the right knee, as well as a right ankle injury, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or sufficient medical evidence linking them to current symptoms.

The Board found that the appellant's back and right knee disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee disability and lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted since May 2013, including a September 2016 VA examination evaluating the current severity of the Veteran's right knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated outpatient records, as his last examination was over five years ago.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral knee disorders, back disorder, and left shoulder disorders are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and additional development of the TDIU claim.