Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran was granted service connection for depression. The Board also addressed other claims but deferred a decision pending further case development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent effective January 3, 2014. His right and left knee disabilities were each assigned a separate 10 percent rating as of the same date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claim for a higher rating for right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional action is required due to the lack of service treatment records and has ordered their retrieval from various sources. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a left knee lateral collateral ligament strain and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, extension limited to 5 degrees or less, objectively determined recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, objectively determined dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion into the joint, removal of semilunar cartilage, ankylosis, tibia or fibular impairment, or genu recurvatum. The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not manifested by these findings.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since October 18, 2007. The appeal is granted for the right and left knee stress fractures with degenerative joint disease as well as right and left knee laxity.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of whether an extra-schedular rating is warranted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a back disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The appeals are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent as it did not show more than slight limitation of motion, due to pain (compensable limitations of flexion and extension are not shown); subluxation and/or instability were not shown; and the knee was not ankylosed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his incarceration and inability to appear for a scheduled hearing. He seeks service connection for hepatitis C, left knee bursitis/tendonitis, and an increased rating for right ankle DJD.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his knee conditions. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 20% each, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 30% is warranted for both knees.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for left knee arthritis with dislocated semilunar cartilage and a separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability, both effective August 4, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty, personnel and medical records from his service in the National Guard and Army Reserves, as well as a VA examination for his bilateral knees, hips, and left foot.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected knee and ankle conditions, including myofascial pain syndrome with lateral laxity in both ankles, chronic tears of the lateral meniscus with patellofemoral joint syndrome in the right knee, limitation of extension in the right knee, and patellofemoral joint syndrome in the left knee. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.