Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome disabilities are rated at 30 percent each, effective from the date of his claims for increase.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and left leg disorder, including pain and strain, were granted with an effective date of January 23, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD as secondary to the service-connected residuals of a fractured left femur, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the issuance of a Statement of the Case and scheduling of a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and hearing loss, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected mild degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee disability have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent, effective from the date of claim.

The Veteran's current back, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not related to his service-connected bilateral foot disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and scars of the knees have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee osteoarthritis, status post surgery, have been caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and multiple orthopedic conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 11, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and low back disabilities, as well as his foot disability. The claims are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting right knee condition was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his active service and cannot be presumed due to a lack of evidence within one year of separation. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran does not have a cervical spine disorder or bilateral knee disorder. Her claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since March 6, 2012 due to a partial meniscectomy. The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis and denied the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing his case.

The Board has determined that there is no current left knee disability and the Veteran's metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis of the left foot do not warrant an increased rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA examination and medical opinion evidence regarding his claimed left knee and cervical spine disabilities.