Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his request to reopen a claim for service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the bilateral upper extremities. The Veteran is currently receiving appropriate disability compensation for his PTSD, dysthymia, left shoulder disability, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition and remanded it for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and possibly medical records from Dr. Heath.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to determine the etiology and extent of his bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling since January 10, 2008. The Board found that the criteria for a higher evaluation are not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or a separate evaluation for subluxation of the right knee prior to April 29, 2014, or an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee after February 18, 2007. The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating was denied as untimely.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of left nephrectomy with scar, as well as the claims for bilateral foot/toe disabilities, right hip replacement, left hip replacement, right shoulder replacement, and left knee replacement. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records from private sources and Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding his surgeries and applications for disability benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has ordered remand to obtain VA treatment records and additional private evidence, as well as to obtain a VA examination. The Veteran's appeal is currently pending on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the record regarding the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities. Additional records are needed, including from private physicians and VA clinics, as well as service personnel records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of his service in the Southwest Asia theater and obtaining VA examination reports to assess the severity of his right shoulder disorder, right ankle sprain, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and instability of the right knee. The AOJ should also consider whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee arthritis was denied. The issue of service connection for a right foot condition, secondary to the right knee disability, was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pelvis disorder and unequal leg length was granted. However, the claims for increased ratings of his thoracolumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral hand tendonitis remain pending.

The Veteran's retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee was incurred during his active service and is granted as service connected.

The Board finds that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hip strain, and stress reaction of the left fibula are at least as likely as not aggravated by her in-service injury. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for back disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities were also not granted as they are not presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experiences.