Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left knee disability and bilateral feet disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and determined that it is proximately due to a service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right ear disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hip disability are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability under Diagnostic Code 5257 has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to an extraschedular rating for his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the severity of the Veteran's right knee disabilities. The issues include service connection for a cervical spine disability, increased ratings for right knee instability and arthritis, and individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant and his authorized representative, thus dismissing both issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left knee disability, kidney disorder, and hypertension. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination reports and other procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to incomplete development of evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to increased rating for sinusitis and TDIU. The issue of TDIU is now part of the appeal as it relates to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since May 2009. The VA examiner found no significant effects on the Veteran's usual occupation due to his knee conditions, but noted pain and limited range of motion in both knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and likely etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling since July 27, 2007, is now rated at 20 percent for instability from the date of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis and partial meniscectomy of the left medial and lateral meniscus, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The examiner opined that it is less likely as not related to service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, as well as his bilateral knee disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right knee strain, including arthritis. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding the alleged stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right and left knee disabilities and an increase rating for traumatic strain, lumbar spine.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure and degenerative arthritis in the left knee. Service connection for bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Board has granted a rating of 10% for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from November 8, 2016. The Veteran also maintains his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a statement of the case regarding the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis status post meniscal removal, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine status post L2-L4 laminectomy, service connection right knee mild tricompartmental arthritis, and service connection bilateral hip osteoarthritis. The Veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on these matters.