Knee decisions — 2015

The Board previously denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left knee replacement, and has now remanded the case to allow for further development including obtaining updated treatment records and arranging another VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia was incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus cannot be granted on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and seeking an opinion regarding whether there was a medication error by VA. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his knees, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for gout, and reopening service connection claims are all on hold until these actions are completed.

The Veteran's left knee condition is being remanded for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination. The examiner was unable to provide a clear opinion on whether the left knee condition is linked to the service-connected right knee condition without resorting to speculation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues include service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including the propriety of reducing a rating for arthritis of the PIP joint of the left ring finger.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since January 26, 2005. The Board finds that the evidence received since the last final rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability. A social and industrial survey will also be conducted to determine if he can secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected scoliosis of the lumbosacral spine, right hip strain, left hip strain, and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The TDIU claim is also denied as his service-connected disability alone does not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded all issues for further development due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA social and industrial survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the requested VA examinations. The issues include secondary service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee and cervical spine disorders are not service-connected.,Headaches were not found to be related to the Veteran's service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent prior to October 23, 2012 for chronic residuals of his meniscus tear and effusion. After December 2013, he is in receipt of the highest rating available (60%) due to his total knee replacement.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as residuals of a right seventh rib fracture.,These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, which includes right knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran's testimony regarding chronic right knee pain in service is credible, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on 'chronic' symptoms during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and left knee degenerative joint disease are related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.