Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and workers' compensation records. An addendum opinion will be requested to address the relationship between his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and a recent ACL tear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral knee chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthritis is related to his military service, granting him service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and employment information to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disorders.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for a compensable rating for limitation of extension of the left knee and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is found to be related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his right knee disability. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for postoperative internal derangement with traumatic arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and coronary artery disease, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective December 24, 2003. His left knee disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted the requested increased ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 1, 1994, to August 8, 1996.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including rheumatic heart disease and left knee replacement, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effects of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee instability is granted, with the effective date being September 2, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not otherwise related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left shoulder disability was denied. Service connection for right shoulder tendonitis and right knee sprain were granted.

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

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a compensable rating for right knee, status post arthroscopy, and an effective date earlier than February 21, 2009, for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 50% disability rating for his service-connected left knee DJD, finding that there was no actual improvement in his condition and thus the reduction from 50 to 10 percent was improper.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims of increased rating for her service-connected right knee disability and new issues of PTSD, a right shoulder disability, and a left hip disability. The RO has not issued an SOC on these matters. The case is REMANDED to obtain updated VA examination and treatment records, issue an SOC, and readjudicate the claims.