Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities and consideration of whether an extraschedular TDIU rating should be considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's left knee disorder existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The preponderance of the medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of the right knee, to include Baker's cyst. The issue of service connection for varicosities of the lower right leg is being remanded.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his service-connected low back disability and therefore denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has granted separate 10% disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected postoperative osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee and right knee, with scars associated to these conditions. The criteria are met for a separate, 10 percent disability rating for each scar as residuals of the service-connected postoperative osteochondritis dissecans.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically instability, warrants a 10% rating effective from March 19, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and verification of periods of active duty for training. The appellant's claims may be granted based on the evidence obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran sustained a bilateral knee injury during service and has experienced continuous symptoms since then. The Board is at least in equipoise on whether these symptoms are related to her military service, thus granting service connection for post-traumatic chondromalacia patella.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of her service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to a hearing officer's retirement and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated at 10 percent since February 1, 2007. The RO increased the rating to 20 percent effective April 17, 2010 and to 40 percent effective August 1, 2011.,The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has been rated at 20 percent since April 17, 2010. The RO increased the rating to 40 percent effective August 1, 2011.,The Veteran's service-connected chronic left knee strain has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee laxity were granted separate 10 percent ratings. The RO reduced the rating for right knee laxity from 10 to 0 percent effective June 1, 2007, based on improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disability did not worsen during service and thus, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his right knee disability. The issue of TDIU is also raised.