Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including supplemental opinions regarding service connection claims and consideration of extraschedular ratings for shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's TDIU claim from April 2009 to June 6, 2010, was warranted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right leg above the knee amputation was due to his service-connected right knee disorders, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee replacement, is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence of chronic or continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a travel board hearing. The Board will not make any determination on the merits of his claims until after this hearing.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 70 percent, and the Board finds that they are not shown to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically left knee status post meniscectomy with relaxed anterior cruciate ligament and right knee chondromalacia, patella, have been rated at 10 percent since August 31, 2009. The Board found that higher ratings were not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's bilateral foot and knee conditions are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by degenerative arthritis, resulting in pain and noncompensable limitation in motion. The disability has not manifested ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocation of the semilunar cartilage, malunion or non-union of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for residuals of a right total knee arthoplasty and a request to restore the prior rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and personnel records from the Veteran's reserve service. A VA examination is also needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a left knee disability or a chest disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which was aggravated by service, is now considered a service-connected condition. The Board has determined that the criteria for an eligibility percentage of 100 percent under the Post-9/11 GI Bill have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot, back, right hip, and right knee disorders are related to his military service. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 20, 2011 and denied for higher ratings. After December 20, 2011, the rating remained at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disorders, which were secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability with left leg numbness and tingling, have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral knee or hip disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral elbow and knee disabilities are not related to his service, including as due to undiagnosed illness or exposure to Persian Gulf War conditions. The claims were denied.