Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right knee disability resulted in persistent weakness and loss of motion, which was not reasonably foreseeable. The Board granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for this additional disability. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee disability are being remanded for further evaluation. The sleep apnea syndrome claim remains pending. The rating for the right knee is also being remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence submitted since the last final denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and secondary service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected back and bilateral knee disabilities, which limit his ability to perform physical tasks.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and right knee conditions, as well as tinea pedis (bilateral).,Service connection was denied for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for hypertension, right lower extremity musculoskeletal disability (arthritis/right knee osteoarthritis), left lower extremity joint disability (arthritis/left knee osteoarthritis), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and private records that need to be considered.

The Veteran's right hand/wrist disability is granted service connection. His left knee and vision disabilities are denied, as well as his bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, hypertension, cervical spine/ neck disability, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral arms and hands, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral legs, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral feet disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, thyroid disability, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nervous disorder, anxiety, and depression.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorder, lung disorder, and cyst to obtain additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are based on new evidence received within one year of a previous denial.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his combined disability rating is at least 100 percent and he cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not decided at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee degenerative changes, as well as for sarcoid uveitis. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knees and sarcoid uveitis.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and opinion, including service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for gout with patellofemoral chondromalacia, left knee and right knee due to insufficient evidence from the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with Deluca v. Brown (1995) and Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and analysis of the Veteran's left knee disability, including its relationship to his service-connected right knee disorder.