Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, specifically whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee, and left testalgia disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for non-service-connected disability pension benefits and has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder injury and right knee injury.

The Board denied increased evaluations for right knee degenerative joint disease and instability, as well as left knee degenerative joint disease. The criteria for a disability rating of 10 percent were met for each knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral hip disability secondary to a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and TBI claimed as a cerebral concussion. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee tendonitis and remanded the issues of increased evaluations for asthma and cluster headaches.,For the period from November 3, 2009 to October 3, 2017, the Veteran's asthma was granted a 30% evaluation. For the period after October 4, 2017, the claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being received since the last decision in July 2014. The Veteran's mental health conditions and right knee disability have been treated with VA, but the claims for service connection are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for both the right knee disability and the psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the issues regarding right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral pes planus, right hip condition, and right shoulder condition are still pending as they were previously denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The appeals are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease due to a lack of medical opinion linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his requests for service connection and increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,A TDIU claim has also been identified as being inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left leg pain, right leg pain, and migraine headaches have been denied. Service connection was granted for migraine headaches as secondary to the service-connected allergic rhinitis.,Service connection for left leg pain (left leg bursitis and left gastrocnemius tear) and right leg pain (right knee strain) were not established.

The Board has remanded the claims for gout of right knee, left foot, and right foot due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered with a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of right knee strain is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and back disabilities require further examination to determine their current severity. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability has been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney requesting withdrawal. The appeals for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to obsessive-compulsive disorder have been remanded as new evidence was submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been granted. A compensable initial rating of 10% has been assigned for irritable bowel syndrome.