Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, GERD, and urinary system disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ulnar nerve entrapment, knee disabilities, shoulder disability, neck disability, pes planus, foot neuroma, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The reduction in evaluation for DDD of the lumbar spine was also found to be improper.

The Board has remanded the issues of an increased rating for the right knee disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to noncompliance with remand directives. The remaining claims have been addressed, but no SOC has been issued.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and bronchitis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for hearing loss is remanded.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for left knee disability from 20 percent to 10 percent effective January 1, 2015 was not proper. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA medical examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The issue will be adjudicated again after the additional development is completed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his knee and ankle disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased ratings for his bilateral knee strains with arthritis, and the Board finds that it does not have jurisdiction to review the merits of these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for instability, effective from the date of claim. The current ratings are appropriate based on the evidence showing no more than slight lateral instability and limited flexion to 90 degrees with painful motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations and providing an opinion on the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disability that had onset in service or is related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disability that had onset during service. The Veteran's current condition was diagnosed many years after separation from service and there is no medical opinion linking it to service.,The Veteran does not have a current heart condition that had onset in service or is related to his active military service, including his service-connected asbestos pulmonary disease.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension that had onset during service. The Veteran's current condition was diagnosed many years after separation from service and there is no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is not related to service or his service-connected right knee condition, and thus denied both claims for service connection and TDIU. The decision also noted that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to multiple nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran will also undergo examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral knee chondromalacia, nature and etiology of any cardiac disability, right shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, and the Board finds that his claimed disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran has also had his claims withdrawn for gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep disorder, rib injury, and kidney injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, sleep apnea (secondary to GERD and PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and TDIU are denied. The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle condition do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure that he receives a new VA examination for his service-connected back and knee disabilities, as the previous one did not comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psoriasis, PTSD, right knee replacement, ankle degeneration, hammertoes, spinal and sacroiliac joint psoriatic arthritis, left knee psoriatic arthritis, and anemia, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of arthritis, left knee and granted it as new evidence was submitted showing continuity of symptoms since service.