Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a videoconference hearing for the Veteran due to his request. The appeal is also remanded for additional development on the issues of evaluating bilateral hearing loss disability and reopening claims for bilateral foot, knee, and leg disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss. The issues regarding increased ratings for his left hip conditions are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Board also found that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he indicated satisfaction with the recent grant of benefits and did not wish to continue the appeal.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to her service-connected PTSD and left knee osteoarthritis, with a combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including as due to parachute jumping or in-service motor vehicle accident. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and other conditions such as anxiety disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their functional impairment, with the right and left knees each receiving a separate rating for lateral instability. The RO has granted increased ratings of 20 percent for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability of both knees as of February 21, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and determine if any additional functional loss due to pain or flare-ups should be considered in assigning a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected back and right knee disabilities warrant increased ratings, but not to levels higher than those currently assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and is unrelated to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination of the Veteran's knees by an orthopedist to clarify the nature and severity of his knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee and ankle disorders, and weak feet were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee disability. The claims will be considered again after these steps are completed.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is etiologically related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for functional impairment or instability. The Board also found no separate compensable rating was warranted for instability prior to January 23, 2014, and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for instability beginning on that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including those related to left wrist, left knee, and shoulder disabilities.