Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to various conditions have been remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions.,Service connection is denied for a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and psychiatric disability.

The Board previously denied service connection for right knee DJD. The Court granted a Joint Motion for Remand, finding the Board failed to ensure adequate examination and remanded the case due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases regarding presumption of soundness and credibility of lay evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is granted as service-connected. The issue of service connection for the bilateral ankle condition, which may be secondary to his service-connected varicose veins, is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for right and left knee flexion secondary to metabolic myopathy were denied.,The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 20, 2012 for the award of service connection for right and left knee flexion secondary to metabolic myopathy were also denied.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all of the Veteran’s issues that are currently on appeal, including the right shoulder strain, right knee disability, and ventral hernia ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee strain residuals, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder to include a depressive disorder are granted. The Veteran's claim for gastrointestinal and sleep disorders is remanded due to incomplete military records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her bilateral knee conditions and other health issues, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions due to in-service jumping out of planes as a paratrooper. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant treatment records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has restored the original ratings of 30 percent for each knee and granted a higher rating of 60 percent under DC 5055, as the evidence shows chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in both knees.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, left knee disability, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, resulting in a total rating of 20 percent. The Board found that the disability does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD, alcohol dependence, headaches, cirrhosis of the liver, GI disorder, bilateral knee disorder, kidney disease, spleen disorder, hypertension, keratoderma (a skin condition), and sleep disorder are all secondary to his service-connected conditions.,The VA has not provided sufficient evidence regarding the onset or causation of the Veteran's GI disorder, bilateral knee disorder, kidney disease, spleen disorder, hypertension, keratoderma (a skin condition), and sleep disorder. The Veteran’s hepatitis C is also under review for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, pes planus, and diabetes mellitus type II due to incomplete examination requests and failure to notify the Veteran of his scheduled examinations. The AOJ is instructed to make additional attempts to verify the Veteran’s address and ensure he is properly notified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for synovitis, multiple joints; left knee osteoarthritis; and right knee osteoarthritis. The VA examiner found that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an updated VA examination of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including DJD and osteoarthritis, is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to service. The temporary total rating claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals, abrasion/contusion, patella of the right knee was reopened and granted. Service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims for a right knee disability and left knee disability were denied.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at a separate 10 percent from August 28, 2008 to December 4, 2016. From December 5, 2016 onwards, the Veteran is rated at 20 percent for frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disorders. The claim for a low back disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service or any service-connected disability.