Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, granted a compensable rating for residual scar left foot laceration prior to May 6, 2011, and denied entitlement to higher ratings for the other conditions. The Veteran's GERD and bilateral pinguecula were also found not to warrant compensable ratings.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, concluding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left knee disability, and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee DJD, status post medial meniscectomy is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the low back and sciatica are related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying her service dates. The case will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all remaining claims that were at issue in this appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella with osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left knee, as well as consideration of additional functional loss and flare-ups.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted an initial 10 percent rating from April 29, 2012 to October 1, 2014. The issue of a higher rating for his lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left knee disability, which resulted in a total knee replacement, has been granted. The right knee disability is also service-connected as secondary to the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case. The issues include service connection for left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, an increased rating for posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee, and TDIU.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum or new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is at least 100 percent from October 1, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and conflicting information regarding the impact of the service-connected right knee on the left knee.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left knee fracture resulting from VA hospitalization in March to June 2006. The case has been remanded due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the injury was caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.