Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the addition of recent VA medical records. The case will be reviewed and readjudicated, with a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) issued if necessary.

The Veteran seeks service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, which he claims was caused by a laceration injury during active duty. The Board has not obtained all relevant treatment records and is remanding the case to ensure these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disabilities from VA medication, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was initially evaluated at a 20 percent rating prior to March 23, 2011 and at a 40 percent rating since that date. The decision is mixed as it granted an increased evaluation for the limitation of use condition but denied an initial increase in the post-surgery residuals.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is manifested by x-ray evidence showing degenerative arthritic changes, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's musculoskeletal system evaluation guidelines.

Service connection granted for right thoracolumbar strain, and an initial evaluation of 20 percent was assigned. Service connection was also granted for a chronic headache disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of his service-connected disabilities in combination.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service. The bilateral knee disabilities are pending as new and material evidence has been received, but the relationship to service remains unclear.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee patella dislocation with surgical repair is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of her March 2008 claim. She also has arthritis associated with this condition and a separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, was found to warrant a 10% rating prior to June 16, 2009. Beginning on June 16, 2009, the Veteran's right knee disability with X-ray evidence of arthritis warranted a separate 10% rating for limited motion due to pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board video-conference hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's right knee surgery did not require convalescence beyond February 28, 2009 and his claim for an extension of the temporary total rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee as secondary to his service-connected left meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been found to cause severe instability, warranting a 30 percent rating. The Veteran also has noncompensable limitation of motion in her right knee, which warrants a 10 percent rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right knee and right elbow disabilities on an extra-schedular basis, finding that the current schedular criteria adequately described his disability levels.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service, and arthritis did not manifest within one year of his discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to additional development being required, including obtaining further medical opinions and considering the Veteran's education, work experience, and training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records.