Knee decisions — 2013

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for right ankle disability and denied all other issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete service records and a need to obtain additional evidence related to the appellant's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, issuance of a new notice letter, and development of the issue regarding entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected low back disability, left knee strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The issues of service connection for neck disorder, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, and bilateral pes planus are pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion. The claimant does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation as there is no additional functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran seeks an effective date earlier than February 2, 2012 for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of both knees.,VA has granted this claim and assigned a 30 percent disability rating as of February 2, 2012.

The Veteran is entitled to a separate 20 percent evaluation for dislocated semilunar cartilage with pain from July 10, 2007 through February 5, 2010, in addition to the 10 percent evaluation assigned for disability due to arthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing the current condition had its onset during or as a result of active service.

The Veteran's right hip disorder and knee conditions are not service connected. The claims for higher ratings for his back pain syndrome, knees, and TDIU were also denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by arthritis with non-compensable limitation of extension and flexion (full extension limited to no worse than 125 degrees), has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and leg conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the existence and etiology of any left knee disability, including whether it is related to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, trench foot condition, and bilateral foot disability as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendonitis and retropatellar pain syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety at the October 2012 Board hearing.