Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder. The appeal is now back with the VA for further examination and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, right leg length discrepancy, right knee disability (claimed as right knee), back disability (claimed as low back), and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the service-connected left knee and left knee extension conditions, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is also no evidence of arthritis in the left knee, ankle, or foot within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for her hip and knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of her current conditions and their etiology.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent for instability since July 22, 2015. The rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee patellofemoral syndrome remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability is remanded due to incomplete verification of service, need for additional medical opinions, and potential toxic exposure.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral crepitus and right foot hammertoes, status-post surgery, are granted service connection. The Veteran's claims for left knee joint osteoarthritis and right knee joint osteoarthritis are denied as they are not related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's right knee condition is being reviewed, but no specific service connection theory or exposure basis is provided.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. Other claims for various conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received. The claims for erectile dysfunction, prostate condition, hypertension, skeletal arthritis, bilateral foot condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral lung condition are all remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence being added to the file. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right big toe gout and denied service connection for a right knee disability and viral hepatitis. The Veteran was diagnosed with gout during active service, but the right knee disability is considered congenital and not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of current hepatitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, plantar fasciitis, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine DDD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 20, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and right knee disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether these conditions were caused by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 40 percent, and his right knee instability is rated separately at 10 percent. The Board has granted a separate rating for the right knee instability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip dysplasia as secondary to her service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that her hip condition was aggravated by her knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete medical records. The heart disability claim is also remanded as no SOC has been issued.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of examination.