Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected foot disability. The claim will be further evaluated after obtaining additional medical evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic fatigue syndrome and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and readjudication of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical examinations and a need for additional development, including obtaining new examination reports and opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's osteopenia existed prior to her military service and was not aggravated by it. The stress fractures of the left hip, leg, knee, and great toe were determined to be due to the pre-existing osteopenia. Neither a back disability nor a right knee disability is considered secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder impingement, back disability (lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease), and bilateral knee chondromalacia do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The current ratings of 20 percent for each condition are deemed adequate.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is less likely related to his active service and more likely due to aging. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected left and right knee strains are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence. The case will be reviewed again, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case will be issued.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his military service, and the Board found that any symptoms he experienced are not due to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current symptoms are related to an in-service stressor. The bilateral knee disability issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the spurs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip, left knee, and back disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability or any other service-connected condition. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions in the VA examination reports and lack of consideration of a private medical opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, is currently rated at 10 percent under DC 5260. The Board has found additional functional loss due to painful motion, warranting a separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee disability was denied. The Board found that his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5260, as it only showed noncompensable limitation of flexion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability and degenerative joint disease do not warrant a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and osteoarthritis, was rated at 30 percent disabling from August 1, 2014 to the present. The rating is based on chronic residuals of a total knee replacement with intermediate degrees of residual weakness and pain.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.