Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination by an orthopedist to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after service separation. The VA opinions provided were against a nexus between current disabilities and active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to search for and obtain service treatment records, as well as any private medical records that may support the Veteran's claims. The Veteran was not fully advised of his right to submit evidence from alternative sources.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition, including during periods of flare-ups or after repetitive use over time.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability. The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to determine whether the Veteran suffers from such a disability as a result of his service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, knee, shoulder (left and right), and low back disorders as secondary to his service-connected right ankle and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and a separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for limitation of extension. No higher evaluations are warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, result from a common etiology. The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, and right knee disorder were not shown to be related to service.,There is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has been successfully working during the appeal period and chooses to work part-time.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right long finger disability results in ankylosis of the digit, but does not limit motion of other digits or interfere with overall hand function. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a left knee disability. The Board has accepted this request and dismissed the issue.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of asthma, which existed prior to service and was aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and right hip disorders are not service-connected, as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her right knee patellofemoral syndrome and any instability or recurrent subluxation. The claim will be adjudicated again after this development.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to the Veteran's current knee, back, and headache conditions. The diagnoses were not incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple other conditions, have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The AOJ has determined that she is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise the result of a disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis with arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the minimum compensable rating. The VA examiner found no additional functional loss due to pain or other symptoms during repetitive use.