Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board video-conference hearing.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with corrected VCAA notice and an orthopedic examination of his service-connected right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The examiner should also provide an opinion regarding whether due solely to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, he is precluded from all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not met the criteria for a higher evaluation in either the period prior to July 25, 2006 or on and after that date.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee disorder were granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his left knee, ankle, and foot disorders. The decision is mixed as it includes both granted and denied issues.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, concluding that it did not clearly and unmistakably preexist his service. The current condition is not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which is status post total knee arthroplasty, has been rated at 60 percent since the filing of his claim in August 2007. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity and symptoms associated with the condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing and locating additional records. The claims will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability, bipolar disorder with depression. The cause of death was listed as probable cardiac arrhythmia due to an enlarged heart. Given the evidence, including the independent medical evaluation, which concluded that the medications prescribed for his psychiatric condition likely contributed to his death, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between the conditions and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an additional compensable rating and increased rating for his service-connected torn cartilage, right knee with degenerative changes. The decision found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003 or any other applicable codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right leg disorder and back disorders, as secondary to his service-connected residuals of aseptic meningitis. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further consideration, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right knee disability and whether there are objective evidence confirming neurological diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by DJD, does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating or separate ratings for instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others were not.