Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear findings and opinions regarding the Veteran's right wrist and bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 1, 1999.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to December 12, 2014 and did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from that date.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee sprain/strain prior to September 2, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, left knee disability, and upper respiratory disability (claimed as a sinus condition).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the provision of her VA treatment records from November 2011 to the present. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely than not related to his in-service injury. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for diabetes, right knee disability, and leukocytosis at the June 2015 hearing. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee residuals of shrapnel wound, muscle group XIV, resulted in moderately severe disability prior to November 24, 2014. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, gastrointestinal (gastritis), and right shoulder disorders. However, the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is caused by his service-connected left ankle disability and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to the left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee strain and left ankle sprain are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and to clarify the etiology of his claimed bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and total right knee replacement were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned for the initial period prior to January 17, 2012, and the 30 percent assigned since March 1, 2013.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability and a separate rating for arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's residuals of a tear of the medial collateral ligament from the tibial insertion with chondromalacia of the right patella are not manifested by at least moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, while his degenerative changes of the right knee are due to or have been aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. A separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee is warranted based on noncompensable limitation of motion confirmed by objective evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate reasons and bases in denying higher disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities. A VA examination is required to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU has also been raised.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or due to active military service.