Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has granted an effective date of March 2, 2012 for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for a scar of the right knee. The Veteran's claim was not reopened as he did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied low back disability claim.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, and the issue of service connection for left knee instability has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and private medical records. Additionally, new VA examinations are required for the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder in service or within one year following separation, and concluded that the current right knee disability is not related to his service-connected low back condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to PTSD. His CAD is rated at 60 percent, and he is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for the left knee due to symptomatic removal of cartilage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not linked to service and thus, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not causally or etiologically related to his active service and therefore, denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty service is needed, and also requests additional service treatment records. The Veteran's claim for left knee disability will be remanded to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, based on limitation of motion. The Board finds no basis to assign a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not causally or etiologically related to active military service and is not caused or aggravated by service-connected left knee subluxation, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, or bilateral shin splits.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have begun during his active duty service. For both knees, the disability ratings are increased from 10% to 20%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's need for a below the knee amputation of the right leg was at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected superficial peroneal neuropathy, which is a residual of his right femur fracture.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for recurrent subluxation and semilunar cartilage injury and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, except for a 20 percent rating from May 23, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including to clarify whether the Veteran had arthritis in her knees and to conduct range of motion studies. The appeal is now returned for appellate review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella with right leg pain is related to an injury sustained during active duty for training in November 1992, and grants service connection.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective June 7, 2012. The disability has not resulted in ankylosis or recurrent subluxation/lateral instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disorders were not incurred in or related to service, nor may they be presumed to have occurred therein. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of increased evaluation for his knees and reopening of his hypertension claim are pending.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to her relocation and the need for a videoconference hearing.