Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, and increased ratings for hiatal hernia with peptic ulcer and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for the bilateral eye disability due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation. For the other conditions, there was no new and material evidence presented to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and bilateral lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency were denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a right hand or right knee disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee arthritis and any functional limitations it may cause. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left hip disability, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of records, particularly regarding knee range of motion testing and history of meniscal issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations for his right knee and thoracolumbar spine strain, as the previous examinations did not comply with the requirements of 38 C.F.R. � 4.59.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly considering the impact of opioid use.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the credibility of the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology since the in-service injury and to obtain an addendum opinion as to whether any residuals of the Veteran's in-service injury may have negatively affected the outcome of his post-service knee injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

For the period between January 1, 2009 and July 29, 2012, the Veteran's status post total left knee replacement was manifested by symptoms of severe painful motion, instability, and weakness.,Beginning on and after October 1, 2012, the Veteran's status post total left knee replacement has manifest with intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, limitation of motion, and moderate instability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA medical examination and consideration of whether referral to the Director of Compensation Service for an extraschedular TDIU is proper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various conditions, as well as a claim for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Board has determined that these claims require additional development and will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left foot disabilities are not related to his service-connected back disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his right shoulder disability and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected pes planus. The claim for a neck disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and left elbow. The Veteran's claims for headaches, vertigo, gastrointestinal disorder, left elbow disorder, and right and left knee disorders are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity that they effectively preclude him from securing or following all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion since July 2009, warrants a separate 20 percent rating under DC 5258. The existing 20 percent rating for right knee instability remains unchanged.