Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine if the appellant's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's bunion of the right great toe had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess any current headache disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after all evidence is considered.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination. The issues of rating his left knee disabilities are on hold until further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle and right knee disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their severity alone, as other nonservice-connected conditions also contribute significantly to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, diagnosed as degenerative osteoarthritis of the knees, status post total knee replacements, are related to service. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his employability prior to August 29, 2007. The VA must obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the impact of all service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a higher rating for PTSD. The remaining issues on appeal were resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia is manifested by removal of the meniscus, pain and noncompensable limitation of flexion and extension without ankylosis; a malunion of the tibia or fibula with a moderate knee or ankle disability; subluxation or instability; or dislocation of the semilunar cartilage of the knee with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain and effusion into the joint. The criteria for entitlement to a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine right paracentral disc protrusion of L4-L5 was granted a 20 percent rating prior to August 7, 2010 and a 40 percent rating since then. The left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted an increased rating from 10 percent to 40 percent since August 29, 2011. The Veteran's external hemorrhoids were granted a 10 percent rating prior to August 7, 2010 and a 20 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a right knee meniscal tear, left and right knee arthritis. The Veteran's eye disorder is being remanded for further examination. Service connection for hip and back disorders are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for neurological disorder of the lower extremities and bilateral knee DJD are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The VA examiner did not address the bilateral knee disability, and a new opinion is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, finding that the Veteran's current left ankle disability had its onset in active service. The issues regarding the right knee disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right elbow pain are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected, but her migraine headaches are found to be related to service.,Service connection for migraine headaches has been granted.