Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the left knee and left hip have been granted. The Veteran is not entitled to SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and right foot disabilities are related to his service. The Veteran's hypertension is also considered as being related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a reduction of the rating for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee, and thus denied the reduction. The effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder was granted prior to April 5, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for left arm pain, right arm pain, bilateral knee disabilities, and right side pain due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence of the condition during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations and attempting to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability, and the case is dismissed. The issue of service connection for TBI was remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including an addendum opinion addressing his contentions regarding low quarters and tight spaces as well as deep water exposure. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, and denied increased ratings for his left hip degenerative joint disease, residuals of left medial meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease prior to November 11, 2015, and left total knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2017.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a left knee condition, diagnosed as degenerative osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request not being followed up. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various arthritis conditions in multiple joints are on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his service in Vietnam and thus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for VA examinations and additional development of records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right and left knee or lower extremity disabilities. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions, as well as whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion from the April 2015 VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection.

The Veteran is entitled to a disability rating of 60 percent for his left knee disability prior to March 19, 2014.,From March 19, 2014 to March 19, 2015, the Veteran was granted a total disability rating for convalescence following his total knee revision.,After March 19, 2015, the Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing Social Security records and updated VA/privately held treatment records.