Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be properly adjudicated, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any private treatment records. The Veteran will also need to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding private records.

The Board has restored the Veteran's prior ratings for right knee limited extension and anterior cruciate ligament repair with nondisabling surgical scars, finding that the reduction was based on an examination less full and complete than the one used to authorize payments.

The Veteran experiences mild bilateral patellofemoral syndrome as a result of his service, and the Board grants service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The issue will be reconsidered after this additional evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are not service-connected, as they are not at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records of his treatment following the August 2012 surgery and arranging for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his left knee disability and when convalescence was required.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder and granted it. The Veteran's contentions, along with VA treatment records, private medical records, SSA records, and his testimony at hearings, have been considered in determining that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of record for deciding the Veteran's claim, including a need for a VA examination of her right knee and obtaining recent treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of her service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination and additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty has been rated at 60 percent since September 14, 2009. The rating for his right knee instability is precluded as a matter of law due to the amputation rule.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development as the prior examination report was inadequate and did not address the impact of his service-connected disabilities in combination on his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest in service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee did not initially manifest during his service or for many years after, and it is not otherwise shown to be secondarily related to his service-connected right knee disability.