Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine DDD and right knee DJD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service. Service connection was denied for left knee DJD as secondary to the right knee DJD.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and a separate 20 percent rating for moderate medial-lateral instability has been granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease and residuals of a left varicocelectomy, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and reschedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and a disorder of either ankle. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a right knee disorder, post-operative, is being remanded due to the need to obtain his alleged in-service treatment records from Balboa Navy Hospital. The RO has not exhausted all reasonable efforts to locate these records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and verify service character status. The VA will provide a new examination to determine the likelihood of in-service onset or association with his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and a new VA medical examination for his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected due to a motorcycle fall, but his claim for presumptive service connection based on exposure and aggravation of pre-existing condition are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, left and right knee strains, fracture of the right jaw, right elbow tendonitis, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee bursitis is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date beyond June 16, 2009 for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill) was denied as there is no clear evidence that his physical or mental disabilities prevented him from initiating or completing his chosen program of education during his eligibility period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limited flexion to no more than 55 degrees with associated symptoms such as pain and guarding of movement, does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current right knee disability, including considering his periods of active duty and National Guard service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities to service, either directly or as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hammertoes. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent, effective August 2, 2000. The claim for service connection for cardiomyopathy was granted. New and material evidence claims for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and high cholesterol were not reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain evidence supporting his claims of service connection for various conditions, including skin disorder, gout, hepatitis C, left knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and generalized arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.