Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right knee DJD and instability have been rated as 10 percent disabling since the initial grant of service connection. The current ratings are maintained due to the lack of evidence showing more than slight or moderate instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a memory disability, and his cranial neuralgia and migraine headaches are not incurred in or related to service. The left shoulder, bilateral elbow, right knee, and chest pain disabilities were also not found to be incurred in or related to service. The skin disability was not found to be incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion with normal range of motion on both flexion and extension, is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that a rating of 10 percent for the left knee disability is warranted based on painful motion, tenderness and swelling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his obstructive sleep apnea, are all related to service. The claims for increased rating of restrictive lung disease and special monthly compensation have been remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, and impingement of shoulders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and right shoulder conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development at a correctional facility.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee, to include pes anserine bursitis, was reopened and granted. The new evidence included ongoing treatment records showing a current right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee and chronic rhinitis disabilities, as her symptoms have worsened since her last VA examinations in January 2013.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for an irregular curvature of the spine and a bilateral knee disability, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability has worsened, and he requires a VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition. The claim is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at a minimum of 10 percent since March 1, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating or separate compensable ratings for his right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with chronic kidney disease, nephrolithiasis, maxillary sinusitis, anxiety disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, heart disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, right leg disorder, and right foot disorder were denied. The claim for service connection of the gastrointestinal disorder was reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial in 1981. The remaining issues remain denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder and hypertension due to his request to withdraw from appellate status. The claim of service connection for right and left knee disabilities was denied as there is no evidence that the current degenerative joint disease in both knees is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as arthritis, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her claims, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee and right ankle conditions are not causally related to his military service, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his case.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee strain and reopened the claim for service connection of a back condition, but found that new evidence does not establish a direct link between the current conditions and military service.