Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's application for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted as she meets the eligibility requirements due to her service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II and left eye sixth nerve palsy, bilateral cataracts, and bilateral hypertensive retinopathy.,The remaining issues of service connection for right ankle disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The TDIU issue will also be deferred until further notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right hand arthritis. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for left hip and left knee disabilities, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current hip and knee disabilities are related to service-connected bilateral foot disability or an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant (Veteran) withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of his left knee chondromalacia and whether he has left foot drop as secondary to service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include an undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain and fatigue, which is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,The criteria for a TDIU based upon service-connected disabilities are not met.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 30 percent disabling since April 1, 2010. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted the Veteran's increased ratings for chondromalacia patella, residuals, right knee injury with arthritis and right knee instability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by full extension with limited flexion to no less than 93 degrees and functional impairment due to painful motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for left knee chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease, as well as higher initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and left knee condition, including a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with secondary service connection also being considered.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for posttraumatic degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and missing medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was reduced from 30% to 10%, effective October 18, 2012. The reduction is void ab initio due to lack of proper notice and process. The 30% rating is restored.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's knee disabilities caused or aggravated his back issues. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements and medical opinions linking his current back problems to his knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with a separate compensable rating assigned for residuals of left knee meniscectomy and multiple right knee meniscectomies. The Veteran's left knee DJD is rated at 10 percent since March 23, 2017.