Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability, residuals of a right ankle sprain, and seizure disorder due to his failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board has ordered a remand for the VA to schedule an appropriate examination and provide a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right leg/knee disability, including whether any current gout is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and coronary artery disease with left ventricular hypertrophy and mitral valve regurgitation, status post angioplasty, disabilities are all service-connected.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20 percent effective April 16, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature of the appellant's disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability before October 26, 2005. The appeal is remanded to determine if additional evidence supports these decisions.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The disabilities are considered secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings for her left knee disability and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been dismissed as she has withdrawn all remaining appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia was incurred in active service and is currently manifested by a current diagnosis of right knee chondromalacia. The Veteran's PTSD with depression is also granted, with an initial rating of 30 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's condition was emergent and timely treatment at a VA facility was not feasible. The Veteran received necessary surgery at UC Davis, which is considered an emergency situation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that neither a disability shown in service nor a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his demise.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service shrapnel wound or overcompensation. The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing SSA records and untranslated medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee instability, arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right knee instability were denied as there was no evidence of additional disability not already accounted for by the current ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not warrant ratings in excess of 30 percent prior to September 16, 2011 and/or in excess of 50 percent (combined) from that date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee conditions was denied as the evidence did not show moderate subluxation or instability of the right knee in any period pertinent to this appeal.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of the left knee with exostosis are currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating, but his condition does not warrant an increased rating as there is no evidence of flexion limited to 45 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to a right knee disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an updated examination.