Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the permanent loss of use of his feet, meeting the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for pulmonary emphysema, left and right foot conditions, left and right knee conditions, low back condition, and COPD due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and hip issues, neck and back problems, neurological disorders, and a psychiatric disability. The appeals are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip, shoulder, knee, ankle, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to a service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and gastritis due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and military service. The Veteran's lay statements and treatment records provide competent evidence that his disabilities may be associated with service, but further examination is needed to determine if there is a link.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings have been denied. The claim for dry eye syndrome due to PRK surgery was not reopened, while the remaining issues were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip arthritis and denied service connection for right knee strain, venous thrombosis of the left lower extremity, and venous thrombosis of the right lower extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for dyslipidemia and has remanded the remaining issues related to spine conditions, joint disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, GERD, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including arthritis of the right and left ankles, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea syndrome. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim for hypertension.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and higher disability ratings, except for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder on a reopened basis. The Veteran's claims for other conditions were not granted.

The Veteran's left and right total knee replacements are rated at 60% since April 4, 2017. The TDIU is granted effective from April 5, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and remands several issues for further action.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and residuals of a head injury (including headaches and dizziness) are granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities are related to his service-connected right knee condition, but more evidence is needed for a final determination.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and an initial compensable rating for tension headaches. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's in-service injury led to current disability. The other claims were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need to review additional evidence and conduct a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disability, dementia, tremors, and atrial fibrillation. The effective date of the award for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied earlier than February 25, 2013.