Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the proposed reduction in his right knee rating.

The Veteran's right knee torn lateral meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament are currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 12, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence, including treatment records from VA and private physicians who have provided opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorders, including degenerative joint disease and postoperative residuals of an arthroscopic meniscectomy, are related to his military service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chronic sprain is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that service connection is warranted for his bilateral knee disability and right eye disability. The Veteran's bilateral wrist condition was not addressed as it appears to be a separate claim.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was not manifested by flexion limited to at least 45 degrees or extension limited to at least 10 degrees from November 30, 2005 to March 28, 2012 and since December 5, 2013. Therefore, the initial rating of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, renal dysfunction, urinary incontinence, heart disability, fecal incontinence, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been rated at 60% since September 1, 2010. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from this date due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee disorders. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, lung and spleen disabilities, anemia with Crohn's disease, G-6-PD deficiency, bilateral knee disability, traumatic arthritis of the left hip, pes planus, and generalized anxiety disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance was denied because the knee brace he uses does not cause wear and tear on his clothes, as determined by the Under Secretary for Health.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including consideration of new evidence submitted since the March 2015 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability was reduced from a 30 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, effective December 1, 2006. The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for service-connected hypertension.,The reduction of the 30 percent rating for the right knee degenerative joint disease with history of ACL reconstruction was upheld.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a knee disorder was denied in the June 1982 rating decision. The RO found no evidence of a chronic knee disorder during service and thus denied the claim. The issue of reopening the claim has been addressed, but the new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his abnormal mitral valve with congested heart failure and multiple knee injuries, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 26, 2013. Since then, he has been in receipt of special monthly compensation (SMC) due to aid and attendance/housebound.