Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his temporary total rating through August 25, 2009 is granted. The effective date starts from July 1, 2009 and ends at August 25, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent left shoulder dislocation, right ankle fracture, osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, and hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on November 27, 2010 were denied because the treatment provided was not considered an emergency and VA facilities were reasonably available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an initial compensable rating for left thumb osteoarthritis are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, but did not assign a specific rating or effective date as the appeal is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate January 2010 VA opinions and for obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee, as well as his osteoarthritis, have been granted initial ratings. The right knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disorder or residuals of TBI related to his active duty service. The evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current disability and there is no evidence of chronicity in service. The claim was also not granted as presumptive due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee meniscus tear prior to October 6, 2013 was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for the same condition since that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion and laxity, is currently rated at 10 percent under the rating criteria for traumatic arthritis and instability. The claim for increase has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a right or left knee disability, and thus, there is no basis to grant service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his right knee and right hip conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left knee disorders have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected right and left knee disabilities.