Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the effect of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee arthritis affecting extension was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion warranting an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing VA examinations to assess whether the Veteran has current right shoulder and right knee disorders related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The claim will also be referred to the Director, Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

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

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disability alone does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show more than slight instability in either knee, which does not warrant a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant SSA records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, and left knee disability are not service connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder was not aggravated by service, and a separate right knee disorder did not develop during service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The VA determined that her flexion limitation does not warrant a higher rating, but limited extension to 7 degrees warrants a separate 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, and he is not bedridden. Therefore, special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stomach, shoulder, elbow, hip, wrist, knee, and asthma disorders are not etiologically related to his active duty service, including service during the Persian Gulf War. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection of left knee disability, neck disability, and right hand condition. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee traumatic arthritis was not characterized by flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or greater, recurrent subluxation, ankylosis, impairment of the tibia or fibula, or genu recurvatum for the periods from May 4, 2011 to November 24, 2015 and from June 1, 2010 to May 3, 2011.,For the period from May 4, 2011 to November 24, 2015, the Veteran's right knee traumatic arthritis was characterized by flexion limited to 45 degrees or less and extension limited to 10 degrees or greater. The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for slight instability due to service connected traumatic arthritis of the right knee.,For the period from May 4, 2011 to November 24, 2015, the Veteran's right knee traumatic arthritis was characterized by dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of pain, locking, and effusion into the joint. The Veteran is granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for an increased disability rating for left total knee replacement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions have not warranted an increased rating in any of the issues on appeal.