Knee decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee instability disability was shown to have been manifested by no more than slight lateral instability, and thus denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's ratings for right knee instability and degenerative joint disease were restored to their original levels.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering whether to refer the case for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his active duty status, and he will be scheduled for a videoconference hearing before the Board after his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence to support the Veteran's claim of having a bilateral knee disability, including as related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for medical examinations to address his claims of service connection for various conditions. The issues remain in a state of pending resolution.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, has not met the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's patellofemoral degenerative joint disease of the left knee is service connected. The edema of the lower extremities (including varicose veins) is not service connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine injury and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and review of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was granted. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability is under the Board's jurisdiction and requires a remand.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond December 31, 2011, due to his right knee disability following surgery. The criteria for extending the convalescence period were not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The diagnoses were not related to service or the presumption of in-service exposure.

The VA examiner found no evidence linking the Veteran's current right knee disorder to service, including a jeep accident in service. The Board concurs with this finding.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the December 2014 VA examination report and the need to address whether any diagnosed left knee disorders are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee arthritis is causally related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a right knee disability, which is secondary to residuals of a left knee injury with osteoarthritis, status post meniscectomy.