Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral joint disease, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The case is being remanded to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left knee disability and service connection for lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the left knee disorder under Diagnostic Code 5258 and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not characterized by a penile deformity, and the scars associated with prostate cancer are not painful or unstable.,The Veteran's post-surgical scar associated with prostate cancer does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7804 or 7805.,VA must obtain updated VA treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the active status of the Veteran’s prostate cancer, to include rising PSA levels. The Veteran should also be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea and liver cysts.,The Veteran's left knee internal derangement must be evaluated for current severity and manifestations.,VA must provide an appropriate clinician to examine the Veteran regarding his service-connected prostate cancer, sleep apnea, liver cysts, and left knee disability. The examiner should provide etiology opinions as requested.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, as well as evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his active duty service. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine if he has a current left knee disability that is a result of his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, rated at 60 percent since October 1, 2015, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from September 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The 10 percent rating assigned for each knee is the maximum allowed under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active duty service, but a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection as it occurred during a period of inactive duty for training. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis issue is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep disorder are not service-connected.,The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to the Veteran's military service for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right knee condition, right leg injury, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and PTSD rating. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthralgia of the bilateral knees, hypertension (to include as secondary to PTSD), and chronic headaches due to inadequate compliance with previous remand orders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions. The Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's cause of death was liver cancer, which is not service-connected. The Veteran did not have the required wartime service for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.