Knee decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back, left ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not show a current disability or any nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected back and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left knee, and kidney disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the obtaining of updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled hearing and lack of procedural documentation regarding the denial of VR&E benefits. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the previously denied claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, depression, hernia and vertigo. The appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been granted. The remaining claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied, and the Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence indicating his service-connected conditions may have worsened.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, polycythemia, right and left knee arthroplasties, degenerative disc disease of L4-5, left forearm scar, and abdomen scar, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. However, the claims for PTSD, bilateral hip disorder, neurological condition of the lower extremities, increased evaluations for lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left ankle sprain, fracture deformity of the right hand, and nasal fracture with septal deviation have been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving only the issues of entitlement to service connection for COPD and a skin disorder unresolved.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 60 percent effective November 19, 2015. The left ankle disability was assigned a 20 percent evaluation effective the same date.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's umbilical hernia has been rated as 20 percent disabling since the effective date of service connection, with symptoms including pain and tenderness in the abdomen. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his post-operative residuals of left knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and left knee degenerative joint disease.