Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and arthritis of the shoulders. The cervical spine condition, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral arm conditions are remanded due to lack of a VA medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to noise in service. The cervical spine and left knee disability claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, and his increased rating for chondromalacia of the bilateral knees is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and determining the exact dates of his active duty. The claims for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right foot metatarsalgia, cervical spine disability, chronic myositis of the paracervical spine muscles, left shoulder disability, left arm disability, lumbar spine disability, chronic myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and left knee arthritis, finding that new evidence supports a positive nexus to service. The claims are therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, arthritis residuals are also rated at 10 percent, but the combined rating does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's kidney cysts are related to his military service and specifically Gulf War Syndrome.,The Veteran's right knee disability is related to service or a service-connected foot condition.,The Veteran's left elbow disability (tendonitis) is related to service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is related to service and his service-connected feet.,The Veteran's lung disability is not likely due to environmental exposure in Southwest Asia, but may be related to Gulf War Syndrome or undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's headaches are of unknown etiology, possibly related to chemical exposure in service.,The Veteran's disability of the left upper extremity (intermittent numbness) is related to a military injury and/or his service-connected feet.,The Veteran's disability of the right upper extremity (intermittent numbness) is related to a military injury and/or his service-connected feet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the issues of increased ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee strain, finding that it is related to his in-service paratrooper duties. The Veteran's other orthopedic disabilities were also found to be due to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee tricompartmental degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD, degenerative spondylolisthesis, IVDS, arachnoiditis of the cauda equina, and multilevel disc bulging with neural foraminal narrowing), and cervical spine disability (cervical myelopathy, status post C4-5, C5-6 discectomy and fusion, and multilevel degenerative and discogenic disease with neural foraminal narrowing and spinal canal narrowing) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.,The Board found that there is a causal relationship between the Veteran’s service-connected right knee disability and his thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD, degenerative spondylolisthesis, IVDS, arachnoiditis of the cauda equina, and multilevel disc bulging with neural foraminal narrowing) and cervical spine disability (cervical myelopathy, status post C4-5, C5-6 discectomy and fusion, and multilevel degenerative and discogenic disease with neural foraminal narrowing and spinal canal narrowing).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, particularly concerning the timing and nature of injuries. The decision will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and ankle disorders, as well as a lumbar spine disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from the San Juan VAMC, and schedule an examination by an appropriate clinician to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left knee condition and heart condition have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of secondary service connection for low back disability and left knee and leg disability. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims and an increased rating claim for left knee arthritis, as well as a TDIU claim due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his partial knee replacement surgery, is rated at a minimum of 30 percent effective August 1, 2013.