Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied.,Increased ratings and TDIU are also remanded.

Service connection is denied for shin splints, left leg and right leg.,Service connection is denied for gout in the left foot, left ankle, left knee, and right knee.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The increased rating claims for knees and the psychiatric disorder are remanded, as well as the claim for service connection for colon cancer and headaches.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea is granted. The claim for left knee disability is remanded for an addendum opinion. The claims for low back disability and sleep apnea are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability.,There is no evidence showing any shoulder or hip conditions during service. The Veteran's current shoulder and hip disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (migraine headaches and bilateral knee condition) do not render him unemployable, as the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back, left hand, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disorders. The decision also noted that the Veteran's vision disorder was not connected to his period of service.

The Board has granted service connection for heart murmur. Service connection is remanded for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, knee, wrist, left mandibular paresthesia, lumbar spine disability (DDD), middle finger disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease prior to July 28, 2017 and beginning July 28, 2017 are denied. The issue of referral for extra-schedular rating consideration is before the Board.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his service-connected status post residuals of right index finger fracture, left knee strain with limited extension and quadriceps muscle injury group XIV as residuals of left knee surgery, and right knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 16, 2013, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 16, 2013, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records related to the Veteran's cause of death, and a VA examiner is needed to assess whether there is any relationship between the Veteran’s cause of death and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to assess her left knee and back disabilities, as previous examinations were inadequate. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to determine the extent of her functional impairment due to pain during flares or repetitive use.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for a back condition, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee due to lack of new and material evidence.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist, right shoulder, right arm pain, left arm pain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back disability), left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his left wrist condition, nature and etiology of his right shoulder and arm disabilities, and nature and etiology of his low back and knee conditions.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including post-operative meniscectomy and ligament repair, posttraumatic DJD with painful motion, and lateral instability, are not rated higher than the current levels. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee instability and degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia of the right knee due to insufficient medical evidence in the record. Additional examination is required to determine appropriate disability ratings.