Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted initial noncompensable ratings for the Veteran's right and left anterior compartment syndromes, as well as his left great toe degenerative changes. These conditions are rated under Diagnostic Code 5262 (impairment of tibia and fibula).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The claim will be adjudicated again based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as medial and collateral ligament strain with displaced medial meniscus, results from injury during service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, including any additional range-of-motion loss due to weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, pain, or flare-ups. The case will be returned to the Board after this examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and determined that his current right knee disability is related to his active military service, granting service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for knee and left ankle disabilities, as well as his claim for bilateral hearing loss. The underlying issues are addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The claims related to increased rating for right knee disability and service connection for right hip disorder are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the appropriate RO, in accordance with applicable procedures. The Veteran's request for another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge via videoconference is pending.

The Veteran withdrew his increased rating claim for a left knee disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee and right shoulder are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a right knee disability or left knee disability, including as secondary to a right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is not shown to be causally related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as he is deceased.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by residuals of a surgical repair of a lateral meniscus tear, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent since September 2, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for right knee and left ankle disorders, as well as increased evaluations for depression, bilateral pes planus, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are addressed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for right knee disability status post surgery with degenerative joint disease was denied. A separate rating for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability is warranted effective October 27, 2009.

The Board found that there is no objective medical evidence of instability in the Veteran's knees, and thus denied his claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of hands and arms do not result in loss of use.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing on his claim of entitlement to an initial rating greater than 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.