Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and arranging for VA examinations to address service connection claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right ankle, old avulsion fracture of the left ankle, bilateral status post total knee replacement, low back condition, and sciatic nerve condition, did not begin in service or until many years after service and cannot be linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected left ankle fracture, effective from the date of examination. The Veteran's right knee and right hip disorders are not found to be secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and arranging for an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the May 2011 VA examination to address his psychiatric and left knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a VLJ no longer being employed by the Board. The appellant is requested to appear at a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability is pending.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 20 percent disabling for limitation of extension, but not higher. The Veteran is also in receipt of a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for left knee laxity/instability. A higher initial rating is denied.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and a VA fibromyalgia examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and osteoarthritis of the right knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations at any time.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities was denied. He is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and 30 percent for instability of the right knee, both effective October 15, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his in-service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left leg pain has been attributed to peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is not related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hip or knee disabilities for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities. The AOJ should also consider whether he is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and VA/VA treatment records. The case will also be reviewed to determine the etiology of any current back disability and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service or service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to a loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and low back condition are secondary to her service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral pes planus. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, a left leg disability (to include arthritis of the hip, knee, and leg), and PTSD. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each since May 31, 2006 to September 28, 2010.