Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied multiple times, but the July 2009 rating decision granted them with an effective date of June 13, 2005. The Board determined that the effective date should be August 1, 1992, based on the receipt of official service treatment records from the service department.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is found to be secondary to his left knee disability, and he is granted service connection for a left knee disability. The rating for the right ankle disability remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion to address whether his lower back disorder, right knee disorder, and/or left knee disorder are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are found to have originated during service, and he is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at the highest available rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection, and no higher ratings are warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent from December 1, 2007 to August 19, 2009. From August 20, 2009 to July 20, 2010, the Veteran received a 60 percent rating for his left knee disability due to complications following prior surgery. For the period from September 1, 2011, through the remainder of the appeal period, he was rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including as due to undiagnosed illness. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and for obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's need for aid and attendance is being evaluated.

The Board has remanded the claims due to failure to obtain relevant medical records from UTMB/Texas Department of Criminal Justice McConnell Unit in Beeville, Texas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, or right shoulder disability for VA purposes and therefore cannot establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's left knee lateral meniscal tear was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed depression disorder is proximately due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The Board also found no evidence of a current right knee or left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination of the Veteran's left knee and review of his medical records.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 30, 2012. The effective date for this rating is pending further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an adequate VA medical examination and opinion regarding his left knee and left hip degenerative joint disease, including whether they are related to his service-connected right knee disorder. Additional treatment records from the VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida should also be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and cervical spine disorders, as well as his claim for an increased rating for left knee disability, were denied. However, the Veteran was granted a 60% rating for post-total replacement of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of left knee and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The epididymitis claim was granted with a noncompensable rating, while the urethritis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, scars or marks on buttocks and coccyx, shortening of left lower extremity, and residuals of stomach injury claims were all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from Guantanamo Bay and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as well as VA and private medical records.