Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any current bilateral elbow disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, or sinusitis that can be attributed to active service. The lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, asthma, tinnitus, chronic headaches, and bilateral knee condition. The evidence received since the final denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for a further VA opinion regarding whether the service-connected left knee disorder caused or aggravated the Veteran's right knee disorder. The claim is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right and left knee disabilities were not aggravated during service, and thus, they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment effective June 26, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee strain, postoperative residuals, with anterior cruciate ligament disruption, with instability and residual scars was granted. The issue of entitlement to separate compensable ratings for arthritis with limitation of motion prior to January 11, 2008 is also addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the issuance of an SOC addressing his mood disorder claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen service connection for hypertension, left Achilles tendon disorder, right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and low back disorder. The claims are now pending on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and for temporary total ratings for hospitalization and convalescence following surgery. The claim for a temporary total rating for hospitalization was denied due to lack of eligibility under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims are not properly before it and have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was withdrawn. The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left knee condition during service and concluded that the current left knee disorder is not related to an in-service injury. The Veteran's account of his left knee injury was deemed inaccurate, and there is insufficient continuity of symptomatology after service to establish a nexus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee conditions, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disability, left ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability are all found to be related to his service-connected left knee disabilities. The appeal regarding the increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease and instability is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and hip disabilities do not warrant an initial compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. The criteria for a higher evaluation have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip, knee, and foot pain is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.