Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is secondary to his service-connected gouty arthritis of the left ankle and remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty or service-connected conditions. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee osteoarthritis must be remanded due to the need for a new examination that complies with VA regulations and court decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 16, 2011. The Board also found that the Veteran was not permanently housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities are related to his service, including multiple parachute jumps. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral flat feet. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination. The issues include rating his right knee conditions, service connection for left knee disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employability and his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further development, including an examination of the Veteran's mental health and cognitive abilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a right knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied reopening the claims for service connection of left knee, neck and low back disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current arthritis is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss or other criteria.

The Board has denied service connection for various hip, knee, shoulder, and sleep apnea disabilities as the evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's right hand disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has denied a higher rating for his right hand condition. For the right knee, he was granted a 20 percent rating prior to June 1, 2017, and remains at that level thereafter. He is not entitled to an increased rating beyond 10 percent for limitation of motion due to degenerative arthritis with chondrocalcinosis of the menisci in his left knee. The Veteran's claims for service connection related to PTSD are remanded.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits resulting from the Veteran's incarceration for a felony was not properly created, and thus granted the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an increased rating for chronic sphenoid sinusitis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current bilateral knee disabilities or chronic sphenoid sinusitis to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee condition, and headaches due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for a clothing allowance for braces and medication used due to her service-connected disabilities are being remanded for additional development.