Knee decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and leg disability did not begin during service, was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition, and is not otherwise related to military service. The claims for increased ratings were also denied as there was no evidence of worsening since January 3, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues raised in a Joint Motion of the Parties (JMR). This includes obtaining VA treatment records, vocational rehabilitation counseling folder, and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and service treatment records. The Board will then re-adjudicate the claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for his right knee disability, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders have not been substantiated, as there is no evidence showing a direct link between his active service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee (status post total knee arthroplasty and revisions), and low back disabilities on a direct basis. The claims are based on in-service injury and secondary to the right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, a left knee disability, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided, including obtaining a missing medical opinion and scheduling VA examinations for the Veteran's low back disorder, knee disability, foot disability, and sciatica.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to ensure full compliance with the duty to assist and remands this case for further action.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's hearing loss is also found to be service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, bilateral knee disability, low sex drive, and left eye disorder were not incurred in service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the left knee is not related to his active military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's internal derangement of the left knee with torn medial meniscus has been manifested by arthritis with painful motion and at times instability. The disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for instability, but a separate 10 percent rating is granted for painful motion.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been granted. The disabilities are considered direct service connections.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability and ED are not related to service or his service-connected conditions.,Specifically, the VA examiner determined that the right knee disability was less likely caused by service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The case needs further development, including obtaining updated medical records from Miami and San Juan VAMCs.