Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and requesting Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's service connection claims for knee disabilities and skin conditions are being reviewed, as is his PTSD rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disability, including osteoarthritis. The issue will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and issues involving service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, and groin pain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is not shown to be causally related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability, and the Veteran does not have a compensable evaluation for his lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders, including arthritis, are not related to his service and have denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 30 percent rating from April 4, 2009 to January 13, 2010.,No effective date has been established for the increased rating of 10 percent prior to April 4, 2009 and after January 13, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher ratings or additional benefits.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which included limitation of flexion and extension, was rated at 10 percent. The temporary total rating for surgery performed on July 12, 2006 is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of the claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from before September 2000 and arranging for medical evaluations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities. The appeal will be considered on its merits after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain and instability, as well as bilateral pes planus, were denied. The temporary total rating due to convalescence following the right knee surgery was also denied. However, service connection for right knee instability from June 21, 2012 onwards was granted with a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and providing the Veteran with an addendum medical statement on his claimed conditions. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated following this development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disorders, specifically focusing on whether they are related to active duty and/or ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's right knee instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage are separately rated at 10% each, with the instability being associated with his service-connected fractures and meniscal tear.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a new orthopedic examination, and readjudicating the claim.