Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service records, particularly those from the Rhode Island National Guard. The appellant's claims of left knee and right knee disabilities are dependent on the resolution of his left knee claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and consideration of his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the left knee, was incurred in active military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for painful arthritis and moderate instability, but not severe. The claim for TDIU was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development of both left and right knee issues, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of all knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left hip bursitis and left knee anterior cruciate deficiency with degenerative joint disease, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service.,Both conditions were also not found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the left foot, prostate cancer, and right knee disability have been denied. Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and left ankle, but initial ratings were not assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right knee internal derangement and degenerative joint disease, as well as left knee strain, are not rated higher than the current 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of left and right knee disorders are not related to his military service, including as secondary to a pre-existing condition. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and right knee disabilities did not begin in service or until many years after service, or are otherwise related to service. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent from September 24, 2003 to September 28, 2005. The rating for the chondromalacia with recurrent subluxation was also 10 percent prior to January 4, 2005 and from March 1, 2005 to September 28, 2005. Since June 1, 2007, he is rated at 30 percent for his left total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which included arthritis, was rated at a 10 percent rating effective February 15, 2012.

The RO denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including as secondary to his service connected diabetes. The June 2012 VA examination found that the Veteran did not require regulation of his blood sugar levels.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining SSA records and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disorders, each diagnosed as DJD. The Veteran experienced recurrent symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including any recent use of a knee brace and frequency of locking.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right knee disorders are being remanded due to the need to consider whether these conditions can be attributed to undiagnosed illness related to her Gulf War service. Additionally, a new medical opinion is required regarding the etiology of her right knee disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, left hip, and low back disabilities were not incurred in or related to service.