Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and for a TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, as he had one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or higher (left shoulder disability) and two or more disabilities with one rated at least 40 percent (left knee disability and tinnitus).

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee with an effective date of November 24, 1969. The Veteran's initial disability rating remains at 10%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing and obtaining VA treatment records. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations of his right knee, wrist, back, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee and left hip disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's left knee DJD was rated at 10 percent prior to April 16, 2014, and at 20 percent thereafter. The current rating of 20 percent is effective as of April 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The remaining issues are still under consideration.,The Veteran has multiple conditions that he is seeking service connection for, including headaches and calcaneal spurs and pes planus.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected and he is currently rated at 30 percent for his right knee disability. The effective dates for the rating changes are specified.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a heart condition and for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right leg sciatica, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The appeals were not granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded to allow for this development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and chondromalacia of the right knee, but denied service connection for prostatitis, sciatica, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's increased rating claims, service connection claim for shoulder disorders, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, left knee disorder and skin disorder have been pending since their initial filing in May 1987. The RO denied these claims in November 1987, but the Veteran perfected an appeal on her own initiative. However, no action was taken by VA to transfer the case to the Board for appellate review. As a result, the effective date of service connection is being determined based on when entitlement arose with respect to the May 1987 claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective August 9, 2010. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for bipolar disorder remains pending with the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee is rated at 20 percent, and no more. The Veteran's residual scar, status post left knee, does not meet criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder claimed as secondary to service-connected disorders (and disorders for which service connection is claimed), was reopened. Service connection for sleep disturbance and residuals of a torn meniscus of the right knee were also granted with effective dates prior to February 11, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities, as well as back and left shoulder disabilities. Further development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating of PTSD, as well as the issues related to colon cancer, bilateral knee condition, neck disorder, and right shoulder condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.