Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is not related to service or his service-connected right knee condition, and thus denied both claims for service connection and TDIU. The decision also noted that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to multiple nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran will also undergo examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral knee chondromalacia, nature and etiology of any cardiac disability, right shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, and the Board finds that his claimed disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran has also had his claims withdrawn for gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep disorder, rib injury, and kidney injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, sleep apnea (secondary to GERD and PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and TDIU are denied. The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle condition do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure that he receives a new VA examination for his service-connected back and knee disabilities, as the previous one did not comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psoriasis, PTSD, right knee replacement, ankle degeneration, hammertoes, spinal and sacroiliac joint psoriatic arthritis, left knee psoriatic arthritis, and anemia, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of arthritis, left knee and granted it as new evidence was submitted showing continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his right knee disability and left knee disorder.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal regarding service connection for neck, back, and bilateral knee disorders. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and his current right and left knee conditions are less likely than not related to service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his patella fracture and limited extension, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to his right knee disability, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition and that obesity is more likely the cause of the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for both issues prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of service connection for a back disability, left thumb disability, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right knee arthritis, status post chondroplasty, and compensable initial ratings for right knee scar and limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the appellant's claimed stressor, treatment records, and medical opinions for his low back, left knee, heart, and kidney disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a chronic left leg disability other than radiculopathy, and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment, and grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate efforts in obtaining the Veteran's military medical records.