Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's knee and hip disabilities, as well as his lower extremity sciatica, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, vitiligo, thyroid disability, lateral instability of the right knee, and a right knee lateral meniscus tear with chronic sprain and early degenerative changes. The claim for increased ratings for these conditions was also dismissed. The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck and right knee disorders, as well as his claim for bilateral hearing loss. The Veterans Law Judge ordered an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine whether the Veteran’s symptoms present a functional impairment of earning capacity and if so, whether such is related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted considering all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis. The appeals are being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders and a right shoulder disorder, as these issues require additional medical opinions to address whether her conditions are related to her in-service duties.

Service connection for IBS, as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, is granted. Service connection for headaches, left arm condition, left wrist condition, right index finger injury, lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right eye condition are denied. Service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not establish current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and congenital spinal stenosis, bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right wrist condition (dominant) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions originated during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and no VA examiner having provided an opinion on all issues. The Veteran's reported in-service injuries are also under consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right fifth finger fracture, right knee disability, and right peroneal sensory neuropathy (right lower extremity neurological disability). The issues of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left arm disability are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6522.,The claim to reopen service connection for a low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim to reopen service connection for a right knee disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, secondary to rhinitis, was granted. The Board found that the evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The claim to reopen service connection for a neck disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his current disabilities, including back disability, bowel obstruction, osteoarticular infection, CKD, depression, bilateral knee and shoulder conditions, and malnutrition, were caused by a perforated bowel resulting from a VA colonoscopy in November 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU prior to July 8, 2016. The case is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain prison medical records.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions, as no such examination has been conducted yet. The Veteran served as an aircraft mechanic in service and claims his current knee disabilities are related to this duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active military service.