Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and other disabilities. The issue of a TDIU will also be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address certain medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right total knee replacement, status-post right knee chondromalacia with synovitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disorders are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, nor can a direct link be established between his current conditions and his service.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchiectasis due to her service-connected asthma and COPD. The Veteran's other claims have been denied.

The Veteran's headaches were rated as noncompensable, but the Board found that her symptoms most closely approximated a 30 percent rating due to characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month. The Veteran's left knee disability was denied an initial compensable rating prior to January 19, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA examinations to assess the etiology of any arthritis, low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims of entitlement to service connection were not addressed as they are not part of the current appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and secure a VA examination for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of consideration of stress from mandatory physical exercises in service and the MRI findings. The case will be returned to the Board after further review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including sinus disorder, headaches, chronic fatigue, and knee disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his right knee disability, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities, specifically addressing a fall during active duty for training in March 2003.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during his active duty or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to an in-service injury. The most probative medical opinion found that the current disabilities are more likely due to the Veteran's age and obesity.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-TKR, is rated at 60 percent. The parotidectomy scar is rated at 20 percent (10 percent for one characteristic of disfigurement and 10 percent for pain). The left foot disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling under DC 5020 by analogy to degenerative arthritis. The VA examinations and treatment records show that the Veteran has painful motion and noncompensable limitation of motion in both knees, with no additional functional impairment due to flare-ups or other factors.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for a left knee disability, but has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for right knee, left knee, or low back disabilities. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated by his military service.