Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address his right knee disorder claim and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for DJD of the left ankle and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee have been denied. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather the evaluation of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lateral patellar subluxation of the left knee is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective from March 8, 2012. Her service-connected degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) of the left knee remains rated at 10 percent prior to that date and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and traumatic arthritis of both knees. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder remains denied as the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

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

The appeal is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his psychiatric disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-traumatic chondromalacia of the patella femoral compartment of the right knee was incurred during her period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in October and November 1988, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability and granted service connection based on aggravation by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and mood disorder as well as right knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The AOJ is instructed to schedule VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to consider flare-ups and limitation of motion during such.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation and earlier effective date for right knee, status post anterior cruciate ligament surgical repair with degenerative joint disease were denied. The issues of entitlement to an effective date earlier than May 12, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee disability and psoriasis are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or disease manifested by pain in multiple joints, and the lumbar spine and knee disabilities were not related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for genitourinary disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and thyroid disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any other relevant exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation beginning November 1, 2006.

The Veteran's left knee disability (arthritis) is found to be incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The right knee and brain aneurism claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted higher ratings, with the right knee receiving a separate rating for limitation of extension. Service connection has also been established for flat feet as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent for instability, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on instability.,Prior to November 17, 2014, the Veteran's knees were each rated as 20 percent disabling due to moderate impairment from lateral instability or recurrent subluxation. The VA examiners did not find any indication of severe impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and back disabilities are not service-connected.,The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of the results from the July 2014 VA examination and whether MRI studies can be relied upon to document arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.