Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the etiology of his right shoulder arthritis and to issue a statement of the case regarding increased evaluation for left ankle strain, service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant a higher initial rating based on limitation of motion, instability, or other factors. The currently assigned 10 percent ratings for each knee are appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from achieving a vocational goal as an automotive supervisor, and the Board finds that achievement of such a goal is not reasonably feasible.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including a new VA orthopedic examination of the Veteran's right knee and consideration of other issues raised by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder and its relationship to service, as well as his other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a video conference hearing and reissuing the Statement of the Case at her most recent address. The issues include higher initial ratings for various hip and knee disabilities, as well as service connection for bilateral shoulder disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at the maximum available rating, and his diabetes mellitus, type II, does not warrant a higher initial rating. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and duodenal ulcer conditions. He was granted a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for his right knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of a factual increase in disability prior to January 14, 2009. The TDIU claim and the issues regarding increased ratings for bi-polar disorder and right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of various issues, including service connection claims and extraschedular evaluation.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current knee disability had its onset during either period of service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has not resulted in a higher schedular or extraschedular rating prior to November 1, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran did not have impairment of average earning capacity beyond what was contemplated by the current ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service or his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee and right shoulder osteoarthritis were denied as the evidence did not show that her conditions warranted a rating higher than the current assigned by VA.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by subluxation and limited range of motion, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating than currently assigned.