Knee decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 22, 2015, for his right ankle disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 40 percent for hepatitis C, a mood disorder due to general medical condition, and post-operative left knee injury residuals with scar residuals and traumatic arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence for the left knee claim, and because there is no credible evidence linking the current diagnoses to active service.

The Veteran's widow is appealing the denial of service connection for memory loss, Barrett's esophagus, and infection of a fractured right knee. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability is not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current left or right wrist condition during service and no medical opinion linking his current carpal tunnel syndrome to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current left hip disability and service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran does not have confirmed left elbow arthritis and his left knee arthritis is not related to service.,Veteran's left knee arthritis was first diagnosed in 2012, more than two decades after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pending issue regarding the offset of disability pay, and other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records, the need for a new examination concerning his cervical spine disability, and the need for additional development of his left knee claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right knee disorder and back disability, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, his claims are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and are more likely due to natural aging and obesity. The VA examiner opined that the current condition is less likely related to his service-connected neck and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development, including a lack of notification regarding the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) records search. The Veteran will be notified if these records are unavailable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Lyme disease and a right knee disability due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities warrant an extra-schedular disability rating, and to refer the matter for review by the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or other criteria warranting higher ratings.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic right ankle disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current right ankle arthritis does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald, and for review of additional evidence added since the February 2013 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the provision of secondary service connection notice. The claims for a compensable evaluation for residuals of left femur fracture, bilateral hip condition, and left knee condition are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee meniscus tear, chondromalacia of the femoral joint, and degenerative arthritis are related to his service-connected bilateral foot disability. The claim is therefore granted.