Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's scars of her right knee, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor. The remaining issues regarding her lumbar spine and right knee conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and separate ratings for instability and fatigue.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including COPD, hypertension, sickle cell anemia, and a psychiatric disorder. The appeal includes issues related to these conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension. She contends that her condition began during active duty due to stress from basic training.,The Veteran claims service connection for sickle cell anemia. She asserts that the condition was present at birth but worsened by military service, particularly smoking and marching with a thumb extended during basic training.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, dyslexia (claimed as inaptitude), and schizoid disorder. She contends these conditions are related to her sickle cell trait and stress from active duty.,The Veteran claims service connection for residuals of stroke, which she attributes to her sickle cell trait and hypertension.,She seeks service connection for a left knee disability, alleging injury during basic training while using a floor buffer. She also contends that marching with a thumb extended caused damage to her right thumb.,She requests service connection for a lumbar spine disability, attributing it to injuries sustained in service while using a floor cleaner and marching with a thumb extended.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right thumb condition, alleging injury during basic training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's previous occupation as a chiropractor is unsuitable due to his service-connected knee, back, and hip disabilities. The Board finds that additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38 is warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence is in favor of finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request at a hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, resulting from a motorcycle accident in service and eventually requiring total knee replacement surgery, is found to be related to his active duty service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an orthopedist to examine the Veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, right knee disability, low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral elbow disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran at his hearing. The appeal for service connection on the issue of right hip disability is remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for a right knee disability, service connection for a low back disability, a left hip disability, a right hip disability, a left foot disability, a right foot disability, bladder cancer, and PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the bilateral thumb disability claim and denied the claims for service connection for an eye disorder, a bilateral knee injury, vertigo with cerebellar gait (secondary to tinnitus), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran died as a result of complications from a hip fracture, which was caused by a fall. The Board finds that the fall was related to his service-connected right knee, left foot, and right foot disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right patella, chondromalacia and entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, including as secondary to a right knee disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, left leg pain, and right shin/leg pain. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury or disease in service and concluded that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran is entitled to SMC at the highest level due to his need for aid and attendance, including help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding, dressing, and managing medications. His condition requires substantial care on a daily basis.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder and bilateral knee chondromalacia, finding that the Veteran experienced 'continuous' symptoms since service separation. The heart disorder is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a heart murmur noted at service separation. Bilateral knee chondromalacia is also presumed as it has been diagnosed and there are continuous post-service symptoms.