Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The case will also be reviewed to determine if referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services is warranted for consideration of an extraschedular rating due to work absences caused by his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and for adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, tremors, and right knee disability. The Veteran's National Guard service is also being verified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including retropatellar pain syndrome and as secondary to the service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and right ankle posterior tibial tendon insufficiency, is being remanded due to inadequate examination and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for right knee and bilateral foot disorders are being remanded due to the absence of service treatment records, need for VA examinations, and potential outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back disorders are not related to his active service or a service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings for the service-connected 5th phalanges right toe and left knee disabilities during the October 2012 Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and the left knee disability, as well as the claim for an increased rating for low back strain. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip replacement surgery did not result in additional disability due to VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The medical evidence does not support a finding of causation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as to his claim for service connection for osteoarthrosis of the right knee. The initial rating claim for left shoulder arthroscopy, open Bankart capsulorrhaphy, was denied and an initial 10 percent rating was assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues include service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, effective April 1, 2011. The rating for his right and left knee chondromalacia remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for progressive arthritis of the shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral knee condition.,No new evidence was submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a nervous condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct another examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee meniscal tear status post meniscectomy, and for obtaining additional pertinent evidence.