Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as well as for the Veteran to provide additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any current right knee disability is related to active duty, service-connected rheumatoid arthritis, or left knee osteoarthritis. The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's current right knee disability was caused by his service-connected conditions and whether it was aggravated by them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability in his knees and lower back. The claims for hand, wrist, and right shoulder conditions are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. ¶ 1151 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and an examination by a physician.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted for the Veteran's status post medial meniscectomy of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any chronic laryngitis/laryngopharyngeal reflux. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, neck, and low back disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found no current left knee disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals due to his active duty status.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and left knee injury with degenerative joint disease and a torn ligament, meet the percentage requirements for TDIU prior to July 18, 2012. The Board grants TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The case is being remanded due to the Veteran not appearing at a previously scheduled Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, rating for left knee disability, and TDIU are still pending.

The case is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with the Joint Motion and to address functional loss associated with the Veteran's service-connected knee and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disability, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions are not related to his military service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess current disabilities of the knees and right elbow. The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for mood disorder and unemployability compensation benefits are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition. The right ankle disability, however, is considered incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and tinnitus were addressed. The reduction in the rating for hearing loss from 50% to 20% was found to be proper.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability prior to January 1, 2011 was denied. The RO assigned the current 10 percent rating based on limitation of flexion.