Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensation for hernia residuals due to incomplete examination reports, including conflicting findings regarding nerve involvement.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, but denied service connection for scars on the arms and a disorder manifested by arteries in the legs. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has granted the Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected DJD of the right and left knees with limitation of extension, effective from December 10, 2009. The TDIU rating remains in effect.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right knee disability as secondary to the left knee disability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities were not shown to have had onset during service or within one year after active service. The current disabilities are unrelated to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across the board. The Board found that none of his service-connected conditions met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability is denied. His left knee and right knee disabilities are granted with increased ratings, while his service-connected lumbar spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the current severity of his right long and ring finger fractures and bilateral tinea pedis disabilities. The appeal is also remanded for a VA examination to determine if any current knee disability is due to service.

The Veteran's service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the right and left knees has not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right leg mid-shaft tibia/fibula fracture was denied. The disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, it denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and instability, does not warrant a higher rating as the evidence shows no more than moderate limitation of flexion or extension, and slight instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his knee conditions, including any potential need for right knee replacement surgery.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for chondromalacia patella of the left knee based on dislocation and effusion, and has awarded a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of extension. Service connection for hepatitis C is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The right knee disability issue remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and SMC based on aid and attendance, and the Board dismissed these issues. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability and consideration of TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's current back and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for his residual surgical scar of the left knee patella was granted, while service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied.