Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to determine if any current right or left knee disorder is etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's left knee condition is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology. The claim will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee arthritis and lumbar osteoarthritis, contributed to his death from septic shock. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to reassess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The issues on appeal are an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including residuals of a ruptured appendix. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shin splints or left knee arthritis, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee pain with arthritis, left knee arthritis, glaucoma, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and Zenker's diverticulum. The appeals were based on new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that is related to his active military service or any other condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, which includes residuals of a torn medial meniscus from an arthroscopy, is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee injury during active duty training in January 2004.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorders are due to willful misconduct. His left knee disability is service-connected but the initial rating assigned was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which adequately compensates for his functional loss due to limited movement and pain. The current rating does not warrant a higher or separate evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities based on limitation of motion. The criteria for separate compensable ratings for instability or cartilage impairment were not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is less likely due to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to a lack of information regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The RO is instructed to obtain this information and provide the Veteran with appropriate VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of the issues listed on the title page.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not service connected, and it does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection based on his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the criteria for an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU have not been met. The Veteran's claim was granted in April 2002 with an effective date of September 21, 1999, which is the earliest date on which entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and extensions of convalescence periods were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residual scars associated with his right knee disability was granted.