Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, issuance of a Statement of the Case on certain issues, and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for a left knee disability and 30 percent for a gastrointestinal disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, left knee disability, and right knee disability was granted. However, the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for any of these conditions.,Service connection for hemorrhoids was also granted but with a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for DJD of the right and left knees prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee conditions do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his flexion is limited to at least 110 degrees with no additional limitation after repetitive use.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the Veteran's service records and obtain additional medical opinions regarding his tinnitus and knee disorders. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied claim for myopia. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also not found to warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and inadequate examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not causally related to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus resulted in chronic pain on manipulation and use of the feet, warranting a 10% disability rating prior to December 14, 2013. From that date onwards, his condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions are not related to service, with the exception of a single incident in 1969 where he injured his back. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding records.

The Board has vacated the August 2015 decision denying an increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease and granted a 30 percent rating effective from when the claim was filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disorders are not causally or etiologically related to her active military service, or proximately due to or aggravated by residuals of her service-connected right foot disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for her left knee disabilities and cervical spine disability were denied by the RO in September 2010. The current ratings for these conditions remain unchanged.,No new evidence was presented to reopen the service connection claim, as it is decided on a direct basis.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with the right knee receiving a separate rating for instability. The Veteran is also awarded an additional rating for frequent locking of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to deficiencies in the RO's handling of the previous remand and other procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and an initial disability evaluation for hemorrhoids in excess of 10 percent from August 27, 2008. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's current knee disorders and his active service or service-connected disabilities.