Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability due to right TKA at the Cincinnati VAMC in January 1998, finding that the procedure was completed without complication and no evidence of fault on VA's part.

The Board vacated its March 2018 decision denying service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the representative's brief was not reviewed. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s osteoarthritis of the knees is less likely related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that his current diagnosis of arthritis is related to an in-service injury. The right wrist claim was remanded due to conflicting findings and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 1, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for left hand disorder and a right knee disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to current conditions. The Veteran's arthritis was not shown within one year of separation from service, and the boutonniere deformity was not shown until after separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received, resulting in the denial of reopening his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, including for right knee meniscal tear and degenerative changes, left knee meniscal tear and degenerative changes, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, nervous disorder (presumed secondary to musculoskeletal problems), and sleep apnea (secondary to obesity).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to support the claim and concluding that the preponderance of the evidence does not show an in-service injury or disease related to the current right knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's Osgood Schlatter Disease right knee existed prior to his service and if it was aggravated by service. The case will be reviewed de novo.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's residuals of vasectomy, left great toe (claimed as broken toe), and bilateral inguinal hernia are also being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's hearing loss disability, as well as for a new examination to determine the current severity of his left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. Additional evidence is needed regarding the severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot hammer toes, an initial compensable rating for right foot hallux valgus, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability were all denied. The decision found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for severance of service connection and a compensable rating for scars have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases regarding his lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left arm and hand disabilities, and right arm and hand disabilities are all granted service connection. The issue of an increased evaluation for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is remanded.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not compensable.,Service connection for a right leg disability, left leg disability, lower back disability, and right ankle disability are all denied.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence demonstrating that preexisting conditions were aggravated by active service.,The Veteran's current left knee disability was not continuous or recurrent in service, nor is there a medical nexus between it and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder bursitis disability has been granted a rating of at least 20 percent since February 11, 2013. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination and evaluation.