Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right wrist disability, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for hypertension was not addressed as it is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are likely to have had their onset during active military service. The back disorder and bilateral foot disorder issues were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the prescribed dosage of Divalproex.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The appeal concerning whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims for service connection for left ankle and bilateral foot disabilities is dismissed.

The Veteran's gout, depressive disorder with alcohol abuse in early remission, cognitive disorder NOS, and opioid dependence, DDD and spondylosis of the cervical spine, DDD, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, with DJD of the thoracic spine, and right knee DJD have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are at least as likely as not of such severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent, effective October 27, 2011. The appeal for a higher initial rating remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and finds that it is related to her service-connected left knee osteoarthritis. The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis, as well as the TDIU issue, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to conflicting information regarding his post-1971 service and the need for further examination. The issues of reopening the claim and secondary service connection are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, arthritis of both wrists and shoulders, gout, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of both knees. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for further medical opinions on various issues.

The Board has granted service connection for ear fungus and separate ratings for instability of the right knee and degenerative arthritis, but denied higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of service personnel records and an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran is entitled to further examination and consideration.

From April 1, 2010 to April 29, 2014, the Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent. From April 30, 2014, the Veteran's left knee disability is now rated at 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee as secondary to his service-connected ankle disabilities. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to clarify whether he currently has this condition and if it is caused by his ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected and rated at 10 percent. The left leg disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher rating warranted due to the absence of instability or other significant functional loss. The right knee disability is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, elbow, and hip disabilities. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.