Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current bilateral knee and low back disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after completion of these actions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative status and arthritis, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and sleep apnea can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination and additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's heart disorder, right knee disorders, and left knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her service-connected back and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and an effort to obtain any outstanding treatment records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran is also provided with a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hip disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain, right knee osteoarthritis status post-surgery with loss of cartilage in patella and femoral areas, and left wrist scaphoid fracture are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient examination and incomplete treatment records. An additional VA examination is needed, along with updated treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability was initially granted with a 10 percent rating and temporary total based on surgical treatment. The RO also awarded a TDIU, but the claim is now considered closed due to lack of response.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or aggravation of a chronic left knee disability and no evidence demonstrating any left knee arthritis manifested to a compensable degree within one year following separation from service. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology of left knee arthritis is not shown.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of either the right or left knee, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's residuals of right and left total knee arthroplasties, effective September 1, 2013. The claims were previously denied as there was no evidence of severe impairment or chronic residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is related to his in-service shrapnel injury and grants service connection for this condition. The right leg disability issue remains pending as there are no updated VA treatment records available.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain since July 11, 2011. The Veteran was previously rated at 10 percent prior to this date and is now entitled to an increased rating.