Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral stress fractures, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records, VA examination, and additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee strain with anatomic variation of bipartite and tripartite patella needs to be re-evaluated due to the lack of recent examination meeting VA requirements. The case is being remanded for a new evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records, arrange for a new examination regarding obesity, and remand the remaining issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient notice on secondary service connection, incomplete private treatment records, and need for further medical examinations. The issues include bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, all potentially related to her service-connected right distal femur fracture residuals.

The Veteran's appeals of the claims for kidney disorder, anxiety disorder, tumors of the legs (to include as due to Agent Orange exposure), and PTSD have been dismissed. The appeal for hypertension has been remanded. Appeals for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder are also remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, back, hip, knee, and foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PVD of the bilateral lower extremities, lumbar back condition, left shoulder condition (to include numbness and tingling in the arm), and DJD of the right knee as these conditions were not shown to be related to military service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical inquiry into the degree of the Veteran's functional impairment during active and passive motion, as well as during weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing motion. The claim for a higher initial rating for left knee disability is now pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence, specifically the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. These records are needed to make a more informed decision on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in multiple joint disorders and obstructive sleep apnea have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right knee, lower back, and neck disabilities. The Veteran's claim for a left foot disability was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right knee contusion with severe end stage osteoarthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee instability claim and TDIU claim need further development before they can be adjudicated.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left leg disorders but granted service connection for anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claims for cellulitis of the right knee and folliculitis with cysts are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Board is remanding the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examination findings, inextricably intertwined issues, and need for further development of medical evidence.,The Board is also remanding the claim for TDIU as it is derivative of other claims currently before the Board.,All relevant treatment records must be obtained, including private records not already obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examination and failure to address additional functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for gout, right hip replacement, lumbar spine disorder, and left leg below knee amputation due to the Veteran's withdrawal.