Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of bilateral knee degenerative changes, service connection for lung cancer and bilateral shoulder arthritis have been denied. The Veteran failed to appear for VA examinations related to his knee disability and the claims for lung cancer and shoulder arthritis were not substantiated by new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether his service-connected left knee disability aggravates his right knee disorder and a VA examination to determine if he is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a VA orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left knee, shin, and hip disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his left total knee replacement (TKR). The RO has maintained a 30% disability rating since May 7, 2007. This decision affirms the current rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is entitled to increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety), bilateral hip disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service or secondary to his service-connected low back sprain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and arthritis of the neck, spine, knees, and hands is dismissed as his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has already been granted.

The Veteran's claim for chronic pain syndrome was denied, and the rating for left knee instability was reduced from 20% to noncompensable effective April 1, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a finding of chronic in-service symptoms. The Board also found that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease and cutaneous nerve crush injury are presumptively related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection and effective date are pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability was aggravated by service and whether his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and requesting an addendum to a previous examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including review of new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative. The appeal is not yet decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, low back, and bilateral foot disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disorder, including hips, knees, and femurs, was granted. She also received an initial rating of 10 percent for her right knee disability. The left knee disorder claim is pending as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a residual scar above the right ankle. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports.