Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected metatarsalgia and ankle disabilities are alleged to have caused or aggravated his lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disorders. The Board is remanded for a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his military service and arthritis may not be presumed due to its onset more than one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee based on a finding that it is presumptively related to service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran. The other issues remain pending and are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and right wrist disabilities are presumed to be related to her service in Southwest Asia. The left hip disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to service and is not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,The neurological disorder of the upper extremities (CTS) was not incurred in service and is not related by causation or permanent worsening to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left hip, and right hip conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis and instability of the knees.

The Veteran seeks higher evaluations for his service-connected dorsolumbar myositis and left knee strain, as well as entitlement to reopen a claim of service connection for hepatitis C.,His hepatitis C claim is being remanded for an etiological opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination with range of motion testing on weight-bearing.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability and did not grant entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was reopened based on his assertion that he was diagnosed with diabetes during active duty.

The Board finds the Veteran's left ankle condition is etiologically related to her service-connected left knee instability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right elbow disorder appeal was withdrawn.,Service connection for hearing loss and low back disorders is not warranted as the evidence does not show a current disability or link to service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted as there is no doubt that it began during service and is related to noise exposure in service.,The Veteran's right and left knee disorders are not service-connected as there is no probative evidence of a chronic disorder since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disability related to the bilateral knees, shoulders, hands, back, and elbows is not etiologically related to his military service or a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board granted service connection for the appellant's right knee disability and assigned an initial rating of 20 percent effective September 9, 2010. The cervical spine disability was also granted with a separate initial rating of 10 percent effective September 9, 2010. The TDIU claim is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a bilateral knee disorder, finding that new evidence did not raise the possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disability.