Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the knees, ankles and right foot, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without regular aid of a walker and wheelchair for more than 200 feet. The claim is granted for specially adapted housing.

The Board found that a bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee meniscal disabilities, finding that these conditions meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5258 (analogous to dislocation of the semilunar cartilage).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a low back disability was granted. The Board also found that the left knee disability warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. His claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, bilateral knee tendonitis, bilateral foot hallux valgus, and flatfeet remain on appeal.

The Veteran's total right knee replacement has been rated at 30 percent since October 10, 2010. The most recent VA examination in October 2010 showed severe painful motion and weakness in the affected right lower extremity, warranting a higher rating of 60 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of bilateral breast reduction surgery is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has scarring due to her in-service breast reduction surgery, which meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA and state disability benefits records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is currently under review.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain service treatment records and verify all periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, as well as any line of duty investigations. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum compensable rating. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or functional impairment due to pain.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, knee and ankle injuries, a muscle disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an anxiety disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of some VA medical records and requests for addendum opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been granted, with the effective date set at September 24, 2013. The Veteran is currently receiving a 30 percent disability rating for limitation of extension of the left knee, which was assigned as part of a combined disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral vascular disease, and arthritis of the hands, feet, knees, elbows, and hips. The conditions were not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities, including DJD of the thoracolumbar spine, DJD of the left ankle, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, chondromalacia patella of the right knee with degenerative changes, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart, cervical spine, low back, right knee, carotid artery stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease conditions are not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, a right knee disability, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine. The conditions are considered to be directly related to active duty service.