Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including missing service treatment records and a need for an opinion on whether his current condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for a comprehensive examination by a board certified rheumatologist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities must be remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 30 percent, while his degenerative arthritis remains at 10 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's instability warranted a higher rating but denied an increased rating for his degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's joint pain and bilateral knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including presumed exposure to toxic chemicals during his Gulf War service. The Veteran's sleep apnea disorder is found to be aggravated by a service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected pes cavus.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disability in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as it is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the current severity of his knee disabilities and whether he should be rated separately under Diagnostic Codes 5257 (for instability) and 5260 (for cartilage dislocation).

The Board denied service connection for both left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of current conditions or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a TDIU is denied.

Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee has been manifested by cartilage, semilunar, dislocated, with frequent episodes of pain and effusion into the joint. However, 'locking' has not been demonstrated.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and updating treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her current psychiatric, heart, lung, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims will be re-evaluated after this process.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain was granted service connection.,His request for an extension of a temporary total evaluation following surgery for his service-connected right knee disability has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The claims for an increased initial rating for PTSD, entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and left knee have been granted, while service connection for Huntington's disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder remain unresolved.

The Veteran's current right knee disability, including instability, pain, and limited motion, is proximately caused by a lack of proper skill or errors in judgment on the part of VA during the September 2008 surgery. As such, the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 have been met.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date prior to November 1, 2010. Other claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.