Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected back, hip, and knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment, even in a sedentary capacity.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for sinus condition, hypertension, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral eye disorder (including dry eyes), bilateral cataracts, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, recurrent subluxation of left knee, post-operative left knee with DJD, right knee DJD, and right knee instability are remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for left renal arteriovenous malformation (AVM), burn scars of the bilateral ankles, tender left knee scar, and linear left knee scar is also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine condition, left hip arthritis, and left knee arthritis are not service connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to March 23, 2015. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of amputation of the right leg below the knee, and the Board dismissed the claim.

The Board denied service connection for various knee and wrist disabilities, as well as neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus between her current conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in the previous decision, including insufficient examination reports and missing treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss case requires a new VA opinion regarding threshold shifts from his service audiograms. Additionally, all relevant medical records must be obtained for both claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left foot disability may be related to his service-connected right knee disability, but needs further clarification on whether this aggravates the left foot condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities. The decision is based on credible lay and medical evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disorders are found to be related to his service-connected bilateral foot conditions, and the claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was reopened and granted.,Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to major depressive disorder.,Service connection for cataracts, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, chronic right hip strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted with effective dates of February 28, 2013.,Coronary artery disease is granted with an effective date of January 28, 2013.

The Board dismissed all service connection issues due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of current disability and insufficient competent evidence to associate any claimed disability with active service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate explanation of functional loss caused by painful flare-ups in the knees and for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received. The case is REMANDED for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current back condition and whether it is related to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of increasing ratings for various service-connected conditions and is also considering a claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The TDIU claim will be considered in conjunction with the other claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or separate ratings. The Veteran was required to undergo VA examinations but failed to do so without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the low back injury or entitlement to increased ratings for his knee disabilities. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal to restore service connection for mood disorder NOS, which was previously severed. The rating decisions regarding knee conditions remain pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active duty service.