Knee Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected knee and hip disabilities and his lumbar spine DJD, including as secondary.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease, and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in a June 2017 VA examination. The Veteran's statements and testimony regarding his service-connected asthma are also to be considered.

The Board found no evidence of arthritis in the Veteran's right foot, and denied service connection for this condition.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current right knee disability and his active service. The Board concluded that service connection was not warranted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, is rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been manifested by limitation of flexion from 100 to 130 degrees with pain on motion, and normal extension. The criteria for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.,There is no nexus between the current diagnoses and service. The VA examiners found no medical evidence linking the appellant's current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination. The VA will review his claims in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities and the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders. The AOJ will then readjudicate the issues in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, cervical spine, psychiatric, and stomach surgery disabilities. The Board finds that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee is currently rated at 10 percent for painful motion, effective October 26, 2009. The Board finds that this rating is warranted throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 24, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for cervical strain, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the right and left knees have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim of increased ratings for migraine headaches has been granted. His claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, a back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, dry eye syndrome with myopic astigmatism, and hearing loss are all denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection and finds that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disability, hypertension, and low back/knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further VA examination and opinions regarding his claimed bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disabilities. The issues on appeal are related to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder, lumbosacral strain, is related to his period of service and grants service connection for this condition. The other claims for bilateral knee disorder, PSVT, agoraphobia, and OCD are also granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeals for whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for residuals of hepatitis and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.