Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a Board video-conference hearing. He requested hearings on all issues listed in his appeals, including service connection claims.

The Board determined that the reduction in rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for right knee limitation of extension was improper due to a failure to find actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability, as the additional evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right and left knee instability, lumbar strain, and arthritis of the knees, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during her periods of active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate opinions regarding his left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims for service connection for various disabilities.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of a left knee disability caused or aggravated by the service-connected right knee traumatic arthropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claims. The appellant should be afforded examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's 10% rating for posterior cruciate insufficiency, right knee, was restored as the reduction to a noncompensable rating was improper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The specific claims of service connection and higher evaluations remain pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant medical records, including those from St. Elizabeth Health Center, Cafaro Hospital, and St. Benedicts Hospital, as well as any VA treatment records not already associated with the file.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle, shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities have been denied. The most recent VA examination found that the Veteran had full range of motion in all affected joints.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial disability ratings for right knee status post ACL reconstruction with chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, arranging for appropriate examinations, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected major depressive disorder with chronic anxiety features. The claims for sinusitis, unexplained weight gain and body inflammation, exhaustion, excessive sweating, skin disability, right foot and ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee ACL tear has been characterized by limitation of flexion to 115 degrees, limited due to pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling, lack of endurance, locking, and tenderness. The Board finds that the disability is rated at the highest rating provided under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records, including those from his VA treatment. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee disability, cardiovascular condition, neck disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability have been reopened. Claims for scars of the face and head and residuals of a right thumb and hand injury were not reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and left hip joint disability, both found to be secondary to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's patellafemoral syndrome of the left knee is rated at 10 percent.