Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for his right knee injury and TDIU were denied as the Veteran failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without good cause. The Board found that both issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral eye conjunctivitis has been granted. The remaining issues regarding her knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, prostate cancer, and COPD. The right knee degenerative arthritis claim was granted with a separate rating for left knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by diffuse pain of the joints and muscles other than pain associated with spondylolisthesis, arthritis of the hands, osteomyelitis, bilateral torn rotator cuffs, and arthroscopic surgery due to a knee disability in both knees, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for osteoarthritis of the right knee, sarcoidosis, lung damage/chronic bronchitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and congestive heart failure (CHF) due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical records from VA and Social Security Administration (SSA), and a VA examination for each condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back disability due to the full benefit sought being granted in a previous rating decision. The TDIU claim was granted as the Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 70% and he is unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure the Veteran receives appropriate assistance in developing his claims prior to final adjudication.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right elbow and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has determined that further clarification is required prior to a decision on the merits of the Veteran's claims due to internal inconsistencies in previous opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability were not conducted as per the prior remand instructions. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, right foot disability (hammertoes with corns), and left foot disability (hammertoes with corns) has been granted. The appeal for increased evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral foot disabilities was withdrawn by the Veteran. Service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various conditions related to the Veteran's knees and little finger, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claim for service connection for degenerative changes in the right knee. The Veteran's current claims are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder has been remanded. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted an increased rating from 30% to 50% effective November 17, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected interstitial lung disease with COPD is being remanded to determine if it caused his pulmonary embolism, diabetes mellitus type 2, and osteoarthritis of the hips and knees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of active duty status at the time of injury, finding that the Veteran was not on active duty in December 1999 when he sustained his knee injury.

The Veteran's multilevel degenerative disc disease, femoral nerve radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all rated at 40 percent for the period from June 10, 2007 to February 28, 2017. The Veteran's right knee degenerative changes status post arthroscopy with chondroplasty and synovectomy is rated at 20 percent, while his left knee degenerative changes are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder and left knee disability, as well as to review the conflicting evidence of record. The Veteran's service records show exposure to ionizing radiation but not specific hazardous gasses like Freon or secondhand smoke.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, gastroesophageal disorder (GERD), gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), right knee disability, and left knee disability due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.