Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently under review, with the Board requesting additional evidence to determine if it was aggravated by his service-connected back disability and whether it existed prior to a 1986 or 1987 occupational injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination results and medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and Patellofemoral Syndrome are not considered service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of VA treatment records. The case is now returned to the AOJ for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for traumatic arthritis, left knee is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination of his hearing loss disability. The issues of increased ratings for diabetes, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and review of the claims file.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, which were complications of a total right knee arthroplasty for his service-connected right knee arthritis with scar. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations has been withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to service connection for right hip and knee disorders secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a current bilateral knee disability or prostate disability (BPH) at the time of the Veteran's service connection claims. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset in service, within one year of service, or is otherwise related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his current left shoulder and right knee conditions are related to service. Additional VA or private treatment records should be obtained, and the Veteran should be asked to submit any additional lay statements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and the propriety of a reduction in his disability rating were denied. The left knee condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating, while the right knee condition met criteria for a 20 percent rating. The cervical spine disability had its rating reduced from 20 to 10 percent effective January 31, 2007.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, with no higher ratings granted for limitation of motion or instability. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of her back disorder, bilateral knee/leg disability, and foot disorders. The AOJ will then readjudicate the claim in light of all evidence.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is not more than 10 percent disabling.,Prior to January 7, 2011, the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease with meniscal tear was not more than 20 percent disabling.,Since March 1, 2011, the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, status post-arthroscopy, is not more than 10 percent disabling.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, cervical and lumbar spine arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis are related to service exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition noted at entry into service and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between current disability and service.