Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent, and no higher ratings are warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain unresolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, is not related to his period of service. The VA examiners concluded that the diagnosed DDD and DJD were less likely than not related to service.

The Board has remanded this case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran is requested to undergo an appropriate VA joints examination.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be related to service-connected arthritis. The Board also finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, granting his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment and personnel records for the Appellant's Army Reserve service. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's right knee disability and left knee service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for his right knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on functional loss or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia patella of the right knee and DJD of the left knee with crepitus were not found to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including a VA examination and medical clarification.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of arthritis within one year of discharge and that any current right knee disability is not related to service or his service-connected left knee disability. The remaining claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee and foot disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's complaints of joint and muscle pain have been diagnosed as arthritis of the right shoulder, right knee, and left foot. These conditions did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge from service, and has not been related by competent evidence to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's inability to attend a previously scheduled hearing. The Veteran must be afforded another opportunity for a videoconference hearing before a VLJ.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU as of August 11, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is also remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU prior to August 11, 2015 and issuance of a SOC regarding the issue of entitlement to a TTE based on a service-connected disability requiring a period of convalescence following February 2016 surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD, vision problems (including cataracts and retinal drusen), and right knee condition are not attributable to his active duty service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the increased rating for a left knee disability, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.