Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability appeal is dismissed. The claims of service connection for renal failure, non-specific monoclonal gammopathy, interstitial pneumonitis, and hypertension are reopened due to receipt of new and material evidence. Service connection for heart disease remains inextricably intertwined with the renal disease claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are whether he should receive an increased rating for his back disability and if he can get service connection for his left knee disability, which may be related to his back.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and opinion regarding his bilateral knee disabilities and a VA medical examination and opinion concerning his bilateral shoulder condition.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, and his left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease is also rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are not manifested by locking, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum; flexion has never been limited to 15 degrees or less and extension has never been limited to 20 degrees or more.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition on April 22, 2011 did not rise to the level of a medical emergency. As a result, the claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and an updated VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left knee strain and granted service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee degenerative joint disease is related to active service, but his GERD was not related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at a maximum of 60 percent since August 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip degenerative arthritis, status post total left knee replacement, right knee arthritis, hypertension, and left knee internal derangement, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability (prosthetic right knee replacement) has not been manifested by severe painful motion or weakness, or higher intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion since April 1, 2013. Therefore, the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work during the period from September 18, 2006 to March 23, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and an upper respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination of her left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service is dishonorable and a bar to VA benefits. However, he was entitled to healthcare benefits under Chapter 17 for any disability determined to be service-connected during his period of service.

The Veteran does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits as his active duty service falls outside the parameters of periods of war. The appellant is also not entitled to accrued benefits due to the Veteran's death and lack of pending claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities that he claims are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left knee disability and depression have been granted.