Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his L-3 vertebral fracture and service connection for bilateral knee replacements are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and clarification of the Veteran's wishes regarding his appeal for service connection for a disability manifested by chest pain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and granted it. The decision on the bilateral knee disability issue is pending further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing and updating the Veteran's records.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have developed in service and is granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is etiologically related to his active service and grants service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied by the RO, as they are considered direct service connection cases without any presumption or new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral degenerative arthritis as due to service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee degenerative joint disease is found to be proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma is granted, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-surgical and with degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 60 percent since June 2, 2011.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for all issues on appeal, including the rating for right knee strain, status post septoplasty, and service connection for transitional lumbosacral vertebra with bilateral pseudoarthrosis with degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, L3-S1.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and limited range of motion, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hand disability characterized by painful joints, as neurological signs and/or symptoms of an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee chondromalacia are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded it to the RO for further development. The Veteran's current low back pain is not considered to be caused by or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened and granted service connection for right shoulder and bilateral knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of internal derangement of the right shoulder and degenerative joint disease of both knees are related to his military service.