Knee decisions — 2014

The Board found no current left knee condition and denied service connection for a left knee disability.,Service connection was granted for right knee and left ankle disabilities, both of which are considered direct service connection as they are related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5299-5259 and 5299-5010, respectively. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements. The claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are related to his active service, while the right knee disability is not. The Veteran's claims for right foot and left foot disabilities have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board has determined that a new examination and medical opinion are needed to address this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the last decision and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since August 25, 2008. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in evaluation beyond this rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of all service-connected disabilities and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and for service connection claims related to posttraumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hearing loss. The claim for limitation of motion on the basis of left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition and jaw disability had their onset during service, granting service connection for these conditions.,However, there is no evidence of a left elbow disability in service or since service. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left elbow disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional private treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's total right and left knee replacements due to arthritis are related to his active service, thus granting the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be considered.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn, and her right knee degenerative joint disease was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder, right eye disorder (corneal abrasion), or right knee disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating for residuals of right knee injury with instability from 10% to noncompensable effective May 1, 2009 was not proper and restored the 10% rating. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20% for residuals of right knee injury with degenerative changes and limited flexion is remanded.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's in-service injury and determined that there is insufficient medical nexus between any current right leg or knee impairment and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of additional evidence and clarification of his intentions regarding the claims for higher initial ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and left knee degenerative joint disease.