Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to unclear dates of periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) that may qualify him for basic eligibility for Veterans benefits. The VA will need to determine if any such periods exist and whether his current hearing loss and left knee disability are related to these periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service, and denied his claim for increased ratings for left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to additional evidence obtained by the AOJ, and the Veteran's appeal is now pending with the AOJ.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and right knee condition (secondary to left knee condition), but these claims are still pending as new evidence does not establish a clear link between the conditions and service.,Service connection is granted for the neck condition, while the right knee and left arm/shoulder conditions remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left eye and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and hand disabilities are not related to his service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is proximately due or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, considering overcompensation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The issues on appeal are service connection for a left hip disability and service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The VA determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as they are rated under Code 5010 for traumatic arthritis. The evidence does not support additional compensable ratings based on limitations of flexion or extension.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for her service-connected left knee disability, DJD and post-total knee replacement, was denied. The claims were not about service connection at all.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability since May 11, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and considering extraschedular rating and TDIU issues.

The Board granted a rating of 10 percent for arthritis of the right knee with chondromalacia and denied TDIU prior to August 20, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40 percent since December 1, 2012 based on limitation of extension to 25 degrees. The appeal was denied as the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran is granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee, as it is presumed to have been incurred during active service due to multiple parachute jumps. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, which is now granted. The low back disorder was also found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right hip and left hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a disability rating are being remanded due to incomplete development. The cervical spine disorder claim will be addressed after an examination, while the left knee sprain and fractures of the left foot need additional consideration.