Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her right knee and migraine headaches were denied. The Veteran was assigned a 30 percent disability rating for chronic migraines, effective from September 17, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current knee conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or a disability for which service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated based on the severity of his symptoms and impairment, with a temporary 100% rating for total knee replacement followed by a 30% rating since November 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange for a Board hearing due to scheduling issues. The Veteran requested a hearing but the initial notice was sent to the wrong representative and rescheduling requests were made.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his conditions have not met the criteria for increased ratings or service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities, as well as his hypertension. The claims will be readjudicated following this development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his left and right knee conditions have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his right knee disability, including whether the workplace incident caused by a service-connected condition can be distinguished from other nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records, as well as private medical records. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that new evidence supports a claim of service connection. Patellofemoral subluxation of both knees was found to have started in service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective July 10, 2013. He was previously rated at 30 percent prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, heart disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and skin disability are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities did not pre-exist service, but were not shown to be related to active service or a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's right calf and/or knee disability will be evaluated in light of all diagnoses provided during the appeal period.

The Veteran's left shoulder/scapula dysfunction is found to be related to his active military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,For the initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected anterior cruciate ligament repair of the left knee with arthritis, the evidence does not show that the Veteran's range of motion has been limited by limitation of extension, arthritis, ankylosis, instability, subluxation, dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent periods of effusion, removal of semilunar cartilage, or impairment of the tibia and fibula.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is related to her active service and grants service connection for this condition.