Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his meniscal tear repair and degenerative joint disease, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 20 percent assigned under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability that was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor is it proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to be 90 percent disabling, but they do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left foot sprain, finding no evidence of chronic disability related to the in-service injury. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection for bilateral knee replacements.,The Veteran's current left foot conditions (calcaneal osteotomy, degenerative arthritis, and plantar heel spur) were not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left leg disability, increased rating for right knee strain, increased rating for PTSD, and earlier effective date for PTSD are all pending.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, and no higher ratings are warranted as the evidence does not show ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, or X-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints.

The Veteran's left knee instability and limitation of motion have been rated appropriately, with a 10% rating for each condition. The claim for service connection for residuals of TBI has not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and ensuring all issues are properly addressed.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment received at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center on March 2, 2009 are denied as the Board finds no reasonable expectation that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to August 24, 2011. From that date forward, the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's original claims for service connection were not received by VA prior to March 1, 2010. The effective date for the grants of service connection for PTSD; cervical spondylosis with neck myelopathy/radiculopathy; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy; scar, residuals, shrapnel fragment wound, neck; linear scar inferior to the left patella; and curvilinear left medial knee scar disabilities is denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot drop is granted as March 1, 2010. The appeal period had not ended when the information concerning right foot drop compensation was specifically raised by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, securing SSA disability benefits records, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected left knee disorder and other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the acquisition of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right and left knees each receiving a separate rating for subluxation. The initial ratings were granted effective September 23, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and ensure the Veteran's claims are properly adjudicated. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, specifically residuals of right and left knee arthroplasty. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for degenerative joint disease with mild spinal stenosis (claimed as dislocated disc) and right knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for left and right knee disorders were denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for cataracts, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been granted with effective dates of June 21, 2010.,Service connection for PTSD was granted on October 1, 2010, with an effective date of January 20, 2011.