Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination regarding National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of rating greater than 60 percent for status post right knee replacement and greater than 10 percent for right hip degenerative joint disease are not addressed as they were not rated before.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease status post total right knee replacement, was caused by his service-connected left knee disability, status post total left knee replacement, inclusive of degenerative joint disease. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and likely etiology of his left elbow, left knee, and low back conditions. A new VA examination will also be scheduled to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for both claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service aggravation or onset and that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions warrant a higher rating than currently assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's claimed low back, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and potential need for further examination or medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his service, including his right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection either.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee arthritis, diagnosed after service and with a history of hyperextension injury during active duty for training (ADT), is related to his military service. The claim for left knee disorder secondary to right knee disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as the nature of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine and hand conditions, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for Bell's palsy, hypertension, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, hearing loss, bilateral knee arthritis, and gout were all denied as the conditions are not shown to have developed during active service or due to an established event, injury, or disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement. The appeal of education benefits was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee ligament injury and posttraumatic arthritis were rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5257, with a 30 percent rating for severe instability.,For his right knee, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for ligament injury prior to March 19, 2012, and a 30 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his right knee disability rating, scheduling of VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, and readjudication of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and residuals of left great toe injury; and a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to TDIU and denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.