Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's current right knee arthritis is found to be related to his service, specifically the injuries he sustained during service which led to a torn medial meniscus. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied, with the RO assigning him a 10 percent rating effective June 3, 2004. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and skin disability have been granted. The claim to reopen service connection for residuals of a dental injury has also been granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable/increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities have been granted, with effective dates ranging from July 7, 2006 to October 15, 2012.

The Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected and he has been granted a higher rating.,For his left knee disability, the Veteran was granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective from May 4, 2010. He also received separate ratings for limitation of extension (30%) and slight instability (10%).,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since July 23, 2009, with a separate rating for limitation of extension (30% effective from July 23, 2009 to July 20, 2012) and slight instability (10%).,The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent since May 4, 2010. He also received a separate rating for limitation of extension (30% effective from July 23, 2009 to July 20, 2012) and slight instability (10%).,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee, right knee, and hypertension have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and the identification of additional post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD, left knee disability, right knee disability, right hand and finger disability, bilateral ankle sprains, and bilateral elbow disability are not service-connected. The VA examiner found no evidence of these conditions in service or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and an opinion on TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and unresolved etiology issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's right knee disability and determine if any left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee or left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for mid-back pain and left knee pain were previously denied in a May 1994 rating decision. New evidence was submitted, but it did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder and bilateral foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional treatment records. The current nature and severity of his patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee will be determined.

The Veteran's right knee disability, following a total knee replacement, has been characterized by chronic residuals of severe painful motion. The Board finds that the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating are met from December 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service or injuries therein, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, which is currently considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's left knee symptoms and their impact on range of motion. The claim will be reconsidered in light of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her bilateral knee arthritis and TDIU were granted. The left knee was rated at 10% prior to October 17, 2014, and at 30% thereafter. The right knee was rated at 10%. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been productive of no more than moderate instability, pain and limitation of flexion and extension. The current ratings for the Veteran's right knee disability are appropriate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.