Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities require additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and assigned an initial rating of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis is related to his in-service knee problems, while the diabetes mellitus remains at its currently assigned 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, back condition, right knee condition, and sinus problems were denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors or current disabilities related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant records are obtained and reviewed, including the Veteran's STRs and VA treatment records. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected right ankle disability, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent since May 1, 2009. The rating was granted as chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no compensable limitation of motion found.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, and no other foot disorder was identified at the Veteran's hearing before the Board in February 2013. The record also does not support a relationship between any other foot disability and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU benefits is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to service-connected disabilities in the year prior to his June 28, 2007 claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also found that her preexisting left knee disability was not aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected nephrolithiasis, eczema, lumbago, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for muscle injury to Muscle Groups XI and XII, scars on the left knee and left lateral and medial calf, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee characterized by instability. The effective dates are December 23, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA purposes in either ear, and thus service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss. The other issues on appeal are also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities. This includes obtaining Social Security Administration records, VA treatment records, and any relevant service personnel records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to address the extent of impairment and remaining function in his left arm, hand, leg, and foot. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee and post-operative residuals of a right meniscectomy do not warrant an increased rating as there is no evidence of compensable limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip degenerative joint disease is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records. A VA examination is requested to determine if these conditions are related to active duty.