Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated medical records.

The Board has found the October 2010 VA examination inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its clinical onset in service or within one year of separation, and is not otherwise related to active duty. The claim for a gastrointestinal disorder was granted during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder strain, finding that it was incurred during his active duty service. The remaining issues of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and shoulder pain is not related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident in 1981. The current diagnoses of osteoarthritis are more likely due to age-related changes rather than service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disability, left knee disability, and residuals of traumatic brain injury. The claim for an initial compensable rating for low back strain prior to July 10, 2013 was also denied. For a staged rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain from July 10, 2013, the Board found insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DJD of the bilateral knees is caused by his service-connected back disability and grants service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee and left shoulder conditions have been granted, with specific ratings assigned. The highest rating of 30 percent has been awarded for the DJD component of his left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service.,There is no current evidence of a hip disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of multiple joints, are not service-connected. The right ankle condition is service-connected due to in-service trauma, but other joint conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to VA treatment in 1999 was denied, and his TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has restored a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability, effective from when it was previously in effect.

The Board has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with a VA examination, as he is currently incarcerated and unable to be transported over state lines for an in-person examination. The claims will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the conditions are not related to his active duty service or any in-service exposure. The Board found that the peripheral vascular disease, including DVT, was caused by Factor V Leiden deficiency and not due to sodium dichromate exposure. Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were also not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right hip, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a new medical opinion from the June 2016 examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records and to obtain an opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current low back, right knee, and left foot disabilities are related to her service or any other relevant factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee DJD, finding that there is no competent evidence linking the disability directly or indirectly to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to assess his right knee disorder and abdominis rectus muscle condition.