Knee decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, hip disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a noncompensable rating prior to May 6, 2009, and separate 10 percent ratings from October 4, 2010. The left knee received separate 10 percent ratings from December 19, 2012, to January 30, 2014, and not more than three separate ratings of 10 percent from January 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain relevant medical records from Dr. Lang, and the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability is being returned to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an increased rating for his left knee arthritis. The evidence does not support these claims.

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

The Veteran's somatization disorder with PTSD is rated at 100 percent, rendering moot his appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). His claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance was withdrawn.

The Board found that a left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure. The disorder is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right knee or low back disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury, but denied reopening of his claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. The decision is mixed as it grants part of the appeal and denies another.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence to support a finding of a direct relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and service, or any other basis for service connection. The claim for GERD was remanded as it pertains to an issue not related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for a lumbar spine disability that he believes is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board has determined that an additional examination and opinion are needed to address the issue of secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis. However, additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations to assess the severity of his spine and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee symptoms prior to February 25, 2014 are very similar to those for which a 60 percent disability rating has been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's right knee, left hip, or left ankle disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by arthritis and limited range of motion, has been rated at 10 percent since January 2008. Since August 2012, the Veteran also has a separate rating for slight subluxation of the right knee joint.