Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities result in wear on his clothing due to the use of prescribed braces, warranting an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability. However, it is remanding the underlying merits of this claim and the issue of entitlement to service connection for an eye disability (secondary to medication) due to pending development needs.

The Veteran's appeal was timely filed, and the issues of entitlement to service connection for his claimed conditions remain in appellate status.

The reduction in the rating for the Veteran's left knee disability from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective October 1, 2009, was proper due to sustained improvement in his condition as demonstrated by VA examinations. The current rating of 10% is appropriate based on pain.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since November 2011, reflecting severe instability and painful motion with limited flexion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, left hip, and left leg disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome since May 28, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hip or left knee disability that is attributable to active service, and it was less likely than not caused or made worse by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities, which are secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left chest injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his effective dates for the granted conditions are not earlier than April 13, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a back injury, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD remains pending as it involves current diagnoses but requires further development due to conflicting evidence regarding in-service stressors. Service connection for bilateral knee pain and scars is also pending.

The Board found that the reduction of the 30 percent rating for the right knee status post meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease was not proper and restored the 30 percent rating from June 1, 2009 to December 22, 2009, and effective March 1, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder and right knee and hip disorders. Further development is required to determine if these conditions are related to his active service, including his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional treatment records. The Veteran's lumbosacral spine and left knee disabilities are at issue.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding new and material evidence. The Board then determined that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a benefit level in excess of 80 percent for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is denied as his discharge was not due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain and associate with the claims file all outstanding VA treatment records pertinent to his left knee disability, including a current VA examination. The goal is to fully evaluate the service-connected left knee disability in terms of the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been manifested by limited flexion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it does not involve limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less, extension, instability, ankylosis, semilunar cartilage removal or dislocation, tibia and fibula impairment, or genu recurvatum.