Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 50 percent since February 9, 2012 and increased to 70 percent effective from that date. The Board finds the current rating of 70 percent is appropriate for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an increased rating for acquired psychiatric disorder with agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, right ankle, bilateral hearing loss, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The claims will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, including right knee symptoms, was incurred during active service and grants entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a rescheduling of his videoconference hearing at the RO in Waco, Texas.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical examination and additional development of records. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Veteran's left knee disability was not found to warrant increased ratings prior to March 20, 2009. For the period from October 11, 2006 to March 20, 2009, a separate rating for painful motion in the right knee was granted.

The Veteran's right knee total replacement has been rated at 10 percent since April 15, 2008. A separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied as the evidence does not show that his current condition is related to military service or a service-connected disability.,Claims for increased ratings and effective dates were also denied due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year of the September 29, 2004 claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and Osgood-Schlatter's disease were incurred in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and service connection for a right knee disorder before the Board issued its decision. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral foot disorders and recognition of D.B. as a helpless child are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck, back, hip, shoulder, and knee disabilities are not related to his military service, including a motor vehicle accident in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding his employability and the need for additional VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral knee disorders were aggravated by service, resulting in current diagnoses of right and left knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent for arthritis and 20 percent for instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as middle/lower back disorder), and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are all proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to provide a VA examination for his service connection claims. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for congenital low back and pelvic disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's ratings for instability of the right knee and degenerative joint disease, right knee were reduced. The reduction for instability was granted, but the reduction for degenerative joint disease was denied as proper.