Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for a shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise concerning the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability and therefore has granted the claim. The case is now remanded to determine if any of his remaining claimed disabilities are secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disorders, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and specifically denied service connection on a direct basis. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a causal nexus between the Veteran's cerebrospinal meningitis and his current knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30 percent from January 1, 2015 to April 10, 2017 and at 60 percent since April 11, 2017.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right knee injury with secondary right hip, foot, and ankle condition due to the establishment of service connection for these conditions in a previous rating decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's private treatment records and to provide him with VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis, left knee disability, hypertension, and sinusitis are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, finding that new evidence supports reopening of these claims. The conditions are considered to be directly related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected GERD, right ankle instability, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for increased ratings in all four issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his complete service personnel file, verify any heavy metal exposure during service, and provide an opinion on the likelihood of current disabilities being related to in-service duties.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to the Veteran's in-service shaving requirements. The right knee and left foot conditions are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot/ankle disorder other than gout, arthritis, and bilateral ankle tendonitis, to include bilateral heel spurs, and for a bilateral knee DJD.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Service connection is granted for the left knee disorder due to continuity of symptoms since service. However, service connection is not granted for GERD as the evidence does not support an in-service incurrence or a relationship between current GERD and service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left knee condition and thus, service connection for this disability is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee condition was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is due to service.

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