Knee decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability did not have onset during or was caused by his active service, and arthritis of the left knee did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and quadriceps strain is related to an in-service injury during a period of ACDUTRA, and thus service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional impairment, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to its more severe symptoms.

The Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as a meniscal tear, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and osteoarthritis, was incurred in active service. The Board grants the claim of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his knee disabilities, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities of the lumbar spine and knees, and service connection for diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative joint disease, left hip arthritis, left knee strain, and left ankle ligament sprain do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder is related to a period of service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence supports service connection for lumbar spine DDD and degenerative changes, as well as bilateral hip disability. Further examination is needed to determine if left knee and left foot disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the etiology of his claimed left knee disability and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, as well as to obtain updated medical records regarding his knees. The Veteran will be asked to provide contact information for his ex-wife and authorize VA to obtain non-VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is still pending and requires a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The Board will schedule the hearing in appropriate docket order.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. Service connection for bilateral knee and hip disorders is denied as the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for left knee retropatellar pain syndrome and instability.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated at the minimum compensable level of 10 percent since May 2007, with no higher ratings being warranted based on evidence showing normal range of motion and lack of instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain records associated with the Veteran's Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claim against VA. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals in the matters of reopening a claim for left knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an ulcer; as well as rating increases for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities. As such, there are no remaining issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims.