Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to March 22, 2012 and thereafter as 40%. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% rating from July 9, 2008 to May 25, 2012. From May 25, 2012 onwards, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated as 20%. The right knee arthritis was granted a 20% rating from August 14, 2009 to April 9, 2013. TDIU has been granted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to March 22, 2012 and thereafter as 40%. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% rating from July 9, 2008 to May 25, 2012. From May 25, 2012 onwards, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated as 20%. The right knee arthritis was granted a 20% rating from August 14, 2009 to April 9, 2013. TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been productive of painful motion with limited range of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to ankylosis or instability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent. The Board finds that neither knee warrants a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral knee disability and left shoulder disability. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 20 percent for left knee instability prior to March 18, 2013 and from March 18, 2013.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO has not obtained all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a spinal cord injury, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, or right ankle disorder related to his period of active duty. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is due to his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, combined with his educational and occupational history, precludes him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for morbid obesity, as well as his claims for an effective date prior to May 30, 2003, and TDIU are all granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 80% disability rating for arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current manifestations and effects of his left knee disability, including chondromalacia patella. The claim will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service department verification of his 1981-1985 period of active service and medical records from that time. The Veteran's sleep problems are also being reviewed as part of this process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The rating for his service-connected right knee condition will be reconsidered after this additional information has been gathered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, left knee disability, or left ankle disability that had its onset during active service or within the one year presumptive period. The VA examinations and other evidence do not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions to address the severity of his left femur fracture, the nature and etiology of his right knee disability, and whether his stomach condition is related to his service-connected disabilities.