Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted. Service connection was established for migraine headaches, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and low back disability. The Veteran received a 100% rating for her left knee patellofemoral syndrome effective from April 6, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee arthritis did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right and left knee degenerative joint disease have been rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5260, with no additional disability found. The claims for increased ratings are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his conditions preclude such employment.

The Board has remanded the case for consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a June 2016 VHA opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder is being reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran does not currently have or has never had a chronic right lower extremity disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes of the left knee, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for lumbar myositis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, kidney disability, sleep problems, bilateral elbow disabilities, and bilateral hand disabilities were denied as there is no evidence that any such conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 11, 2015 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee and neck disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, complete release forms for any private treatment providers, and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The appeal is now pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to service and grants service connection for left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the severity and etiology of his service-connected right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, claimed as COPD, is not service-connected. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his present condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's current left leg RSD is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, to include as secondary to her service-connected left knee disability. The Board grants service connection for left leg RSD.

The Veteran does not have a current right knee disability or tinnitus.,There is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's low back disability to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, and thus the claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his right knee strain and left knee condition, status post meniscectomy with arthritis and limited range of motion are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to February 17, 2010.