Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected impairment of the tibia and fibula, including left knee disability. The Board has found that additional development is needed due to worsening symptoms.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's left knee tendonitis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new examination to assess his left knee and right foot disabilities.

The Veteran's broken teeth were caused by VA treatment, but not due to negligence or lack of foreseeability. The other conditions are denied as they do not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the disability evaluation from 20 percent to 10 percent for residuals of a right knee medial meniscectomy was not proper and restored the Veteran's rating to 20 percent effective December 10, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA medical records and an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and an addendum opinion regarding functional loss during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for painful motion, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent from February 20, 2013 to October 20, 2016. An increased rating beyond this period is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin, back, bilateral foot, and bilateral knee disorders are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral chondrosis of the right and left knees are being remanded due to inadequate examination in December 2014. A new VA examination is necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current knee complaints are related to his service, specifically gout of the bilateral knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are etiologically related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his service-connected left knee disability, as the most recent examination was more than seven years ago.

The Board found that the cause of death, combined methadone and oxycodone poisoning, was not service-connected as neither methadone nor oxycodone were prescribed by VA for the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The significant contributing condition, COPD, was also not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and consideration of any flare-ups. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of fractured orbit, diplopia, headaches, residuals of TBI with concussion, and left knee disability as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals for lumbar sprain and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to his service connected left leg disability. The increased rating claim for internal medullary rod screws fixation for comminuted left tibia and fibula fracture is remanded, and the compensable rating claim for costochondritis requires additional development.