Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, left knee. The Veteran needs to provide an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his diabetes and service, and he should be examined again for his left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee chondromalacia, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for renal lithiasis with hypertension is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral CTS, mechanical back pain and lumbar-sacroiliac dysfunction, myofascial pain of the cervical paraspinal muscles and upper back, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, limited flexion and painful motion of the right hip, limited extension of the right hip, rotation and adduction of the right hip (unable to toe-out more than 15 degrees or cross legs), limited flexion and painful motion of the left hip, and limited extension of the left hip have all been denied. The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are decided on their merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and incomplete records. The claims will be addressed again after additional development.

All appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including middle back, cervical spine, bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear on his clothing in 2014, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance. The decision is based on the nature of the braces used.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the Board denied dependency and indemnity compensation based on this finding.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for low back and left knee disabilities secondary to service-connected right ankle, left ankle, and right knee degenerative joint disease; an increased rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability; and entitlement to TDIU. The remand requests a new VA examination and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's antalgic gait and its relationship to his low back and left knee disabilities.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee and has remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied in the July 2010 rating decision. The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hearing loss, AL amyloidosis, diabetes mellitus type II, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated VA records for his hearing loss claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right leg fracture due to a motor vehicle accident (MVA), as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, needs further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disability and other health issues. The decision also denied reopening of a claim for a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's left ankle and left knee disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and clarification of functional loss during flare-ups.

The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the service connection claims for bilateral knee disability and sleep disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right knee and back conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint, muscle, weight gain, memory loss, and stomach disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.