Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's follow-up visits with his private surgeon for his service-connected right knee disability were authorized by VA and reimbursable under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1703; 38 C.F.R. § 17.52(a)(2).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records. An addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability and left knee disability will also be obtained.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, a back disorder, a left hip disorder, a right hip disorder, and a personality disorder at her May 2013 Board hearing.

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

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury during service and concluded that the current right knee DJD is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and left knee disorder have all been denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since October 24, 2007, reflecting limitation of extension due to DJD. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for instability.,Both the limitation of extension and instability are considered under DCs 5260 (flexion) and 5261 (extension), respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease but found no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's left knee medial meniscus tear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, knee, and low back disorders were denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding symptoms during service are not credible.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee fracture and total left knee replacement as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied higher initial schedular evaluations for the Veteran's right knee disability under all applicable diagnostic codes and found no authority to grant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities were not rated higher than 20 percent prior to the specified dates, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or severe recurrent subluxation/lateral instability.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and injuries to the right arm, legs, knees, and feet. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or related to service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis and residuals of a partial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261 due to limitation of flexion or extension. However, he meets the criteria for a separate 10 percent rating based on slight instability of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not etiologically related to his active duty service or his service-connected left ankle disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms and examination findings. Service connection was also denied for left knee and hip disabilities as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the VA regional office in Phoenix, Arizona. The claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability and psychiatric disability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA joints examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.