Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left ankle disability, and a sinus condition. The right knee and left ankle disabilities are found to be related to active service, while the sinus condition is resolved from surgery performed in 2007.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and the Veteran's private medical records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right knee arthroscopy are currently rated at 20 percent, and his degenerative joint disease of the right knee is rated at 10 percent. The current evaluations reflect moderate instability and painful motion.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied as they are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and whether they render him unemployable. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee disabilities are at least as likely as not incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders is denied as he does not meet the percentage requirements for benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted due to his inability to work full time as a nurse due to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating for a lumbar spine disability. The other issues are either granted or referred to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg and knee, as well as left knee disabilities did not have their onset during active service, result from disease or injury in service, nor was arthritis manifested to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome, did not begin during service or due to any incident of service. The VA examiner stated that neither the right nor the left knee disabilities were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and obtaining any recent treatment records.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for a clarification of whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The case is now before the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at his local office. The issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 and left knee strain are currently unclear as they have not been decided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, low back, and neck disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination in February 2009. The VA examiner did not address private treatment records or provide etiological opinions on the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and for additional treatment records to be associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since the date of his claim on August 5, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee pains, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and related conditions are granted. Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia.