Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee and hip osteoarthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee replacement, with a non-compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee arthritis and its relationship to service, particularly exposure to cold weather. The VA examiner is asked to provide a new opinion considering the Veteran's MOS as an infantryman and his history of cold weather injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The right knee disability has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy and IVDS were rated based on their current severity, with the highest rating granted for LLE sciatic radiculopathy from October 30, 2014. The Veteran was also granted TDIU for a period of time.

The Veteran's low back disability, including myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, has been rated at 20 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or nearly approach criteria for ankylosis or limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral knee disability, finding that the injuries leading to these disabilities were due to the Veteran's willful misconduct during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for cervical spine disability, but has remanded the right knee disability issue due to lack of enlistment examination records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee, right knee, and right ankle due to inadequate rationale in the previous medical opinions. The Veteran's representative argues that his disabilities are secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations, missing VA treatment records, and new evidence not being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The Veteran died from a brain tumor, but without known pathology of the brain mass, no definite determination can be made on whether the brain mass was related to military service or metastasized from his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as hypertension due to further development being required.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The issues of service connection for knee, shoulder, foot, hand, and low back conditions are being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right hand, and left hand disorders were not present in service or until many years thereafter and are not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

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

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is proximately due to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability with knee joint osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's TBI residuals are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board determined that there was not enough evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, headaches, right knee disability, left knee disability, and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the January 2012 rating decision.,However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and low back osteoarthritis. The TDIU issue is remanded due to the AOJ's failure to obtain employment information from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right knee disability, which is considered secondary to his left knee condition, is also granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis and chronic cough and chest pain is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Veteran's left knee disorder may be related to her active duty service, but the nature of her current respiratory issues remains unclear.