Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and updated VA treatment records. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) will also be addressed.

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 right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee condition is at least as likely as not incurred in service and grants service connection for a right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder), finding that there was no in-service injury or event related to these conditions, nor continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis and for increased ratings for her right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee arthritis was not caused or aggravated by her service-connected patellofemoral dysfunction with strain and/or lumbar DDD, and that her service-connected radiculopathy did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and left elbow disorder had their onset in service, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive disorder is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his heart condition and circulatory surgical procedures. The right knee disability, left knee disability, and dizziness and loss of balance are not related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left knee disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events, injuries, or diseases. Service connection was granted for a left lower extremity neurological disability (left thigh paresthesia).,There is currently no evidence of a current left knee disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that the functional impairment did not approximate the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's current left knee disability is considered cumulative and redundant of previous evidence.

The Board found that the current schedular rating adequately encompasses all symptoms and associated functional impairment from the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, and thus no referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee is characterized by x-ray evidence of arthritis and productive of painful motion, but not ankylosis or limitation of flexion beyond 45 degrees. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee based on limitation of flexion has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and right knee disability are not service-connected as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right and left ankle fractures. The issue of service connection for a right knee disorder remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year post-service for arthritis conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his right and left knee tricompartmental arthritis have been withdrawn. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.