Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral chondrosis of the right and left knees are being remanded due to inadequate examination in December 2014. A new VA examination is necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current knee complaints are related to his service, specifically gout of the bilateral knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are etiologically related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his service-connected left knee disability, as the most recent examination was more than seven years ago.

The Board found that the cause of death, combined methadone and oxycodone poisoning, was not service-connected as neither methadone nor oxycodone were prescribed by VA for the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The significant contributing condition, COPD, was also not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and consideration of any flare-ups. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of fractured orbit, diplopia, headaches, residuals of TBI with concussion, and left knee disability as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals for lumbar sprain and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to his service connected left leg disability. The increased rating claim for internal medullary rod screws fixation for comminuted left tibia and fibula fracture is remanded, and the compensable rating claim for costochondritis requires additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee torn meniscus and left knee degenerative joint disease prior to the effective date of a temporary total rating (TTR).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including consideration of new evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case. The claim of entitlement to TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the claims on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities warranted a rating in excess of 60 percent.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU, effective December 2004.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement surgery, was granted a higher rating of 60 percent effective March 23, 2017. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not begin in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active duty military service. Therefore, he is not entitled to direct service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and neck disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes DJD and instability, has been rated at the highest possible schedular rating (60%) since March 10, 2017. The current effective date is not specified as it was granted in a December 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's left knee strain has been rated at 10 percent since September 27, 2008. The initial rating for residuals of Lyme disease remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's lower back and right knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the lower back disability receiving a 20% rating since July 26, 2008.