Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and conflicting etiology opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, characterized as postoperative residuals of a right knee lateral meniscectomy and mosaicplasty with degenerative changes, has been rated at 20 percent disabling from December 16, 2001 to December 7, 2009; 100 percent disabling from December 8, 2009 to January 31, 2011; and 30 percent disabling since February 11, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from the appellant's reported hospitalization and/or surgery in service at Perrin Air Force Base. Additionally, a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the left knee disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, sinusitis, skin disability of the lower extremities, and hemorrhoids need to be remanded as well.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, status post right knee replacement, has been rated at 60 percent since March 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, as they may be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The case is being remanded for an additional opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left hip disorders are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his hypertension and right knee osteoarthritis claims, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of such in his STRs or post-service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine, bilateral elbow disorder, and bilateral knee disabilities (post-total knee arthroplasty).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to his right knee disability, scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, and adjudicating his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran has current residuals of a right leg and knee injury, specifically venous insufficiency and varicose veins related to service. Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Tinnitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing and her subsequent withdrawal of the request. The claims file will be returned to the RO for any additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability and found that new and material evidence had been submitted. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records.

The Veteran is seeking specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected disabilities, but the RO/AMC needs to schedule an examination and consider the revised VA regulations for these grants.