Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiologies of the Veteran's gouty arthritis and a review of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 50 percent rating is warranted based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The initial increased rating for left knee strain remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening a claim of service connection for a left knee disability, an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, and an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to his time in service, and the Board finds service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated at 40 percent since October 19, 2010. The increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the left and right knees are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability was denied in October 2001, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic left knee disability during active duty or within one year after separation from service.,Service connection for anemia was granted based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Board found that the current right knee disability is not related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The left knee disability was linked to a fall during active duty but no opinion was provided on whether it is post-traumatic.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the case as there are no longer any allegations of error in fact or law regarding his increased rating for left knee disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims. The Veteran's in-service injuries are supported by lay testimony from those who served with him.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative tear of the medial meniscus and tear of the lateral meniscus with degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Board dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion and arthritis. The evaluations are granted for the periods prior to May 28, 2016, with separate ratings for flexion and extension limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the current severity of his right knee disability and address concerns identified in the July 2014 Court-adopted Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current knee conditions and his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active service, and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding instability and failure to consider all relevant symptomatology in determining the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.