Knee decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for undiagnosed right and left knee joint pain, as well as bilateral hip degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's symptoms of knee and hip pain have been found to be due to a qualifying chronic disability related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's upper back disability and right knee injury are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions under the theory of direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities did not originate in service or within a year of service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder is granted. However, his claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus and other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a right knee disability or left knee disability, as his current disabilities are more likely due to post-service activities and do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and does not support granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for separate initial compensable evaluations prior to March 24, 2014 for service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to instability or dislocation of semi-lunar cartilage were denied as the evidence did not show that either knee disability was productive of lateral instability or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies and inadequacy of the September 2015 VA medical opinion, as well as failure to address specific records identified in the August 2015 remand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities, including instability. Outstanding VA treatment records must also be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that new and material evidence supports this claim. Service connection is now established for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a dental condition as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claim for reopening of the knee disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral pes planus, back disability, and bilateral leg disability (including peripheral vascular disease, intrinsic/extrinsic strain to calves, and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction), finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding service connection and increased ratings for arthritis of the left knee, arthritis of the right knee, and glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA medical examination to evaluate the current severity of her service-connected bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome.