Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee and right foot disabilities, finding that an addendum VA opinion is necessary to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is related to his service-connected residuals of a previous right knee injury. The Board has granted temporary and permanent ratings for the right knee disability based on the nature of the surgery.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new VA records added after the last SSOC.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected due to symptoms beginning during service and continuing since separation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including whether a separate rating under DC 5257 is warranted. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee instability, which may be related to his service-connected residuals of a stress fracture of the distal left femur or other conditions. The case will be remanded for further examination and review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The claims of increased ratings for arthrosis post left knee medial meniscus tear, lumbar degenerative disc disease with left sciatica, and left lumbar radiculopathy are remanded. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded. His claim of an increased rating for anxiety, NOS is remanded as well. Finally, his TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for limitation of motion and a separate 20 percent rating for episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.,A separate rating for dizziness and sleepiness resulting from the left knee disability is being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee was granted a 30 percent rating for the period from June 1, 2008 to September 1, 2009.,A 60 percent rating was granted for his total right knee replacement with degenerative joint disease from November 1, 2010 to March 3, 2013. This is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in current left knee arthritis. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria to establish continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inconsistencies between the frequency of prostrating attacks reported by the Veteran and those found by the examiner, as well as discrepancies in the range of motion findings.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and right knee disability for further development due to incomplete documentation regarding the qualifications of the examiners.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or was related to in-service noise exposure, and he failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for the thoracolumbar spine condition, including arthritis and stenosis, as well as the bilateral knee and leg conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain a fully informed evaluation of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay accounts regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for chronic pain syndrome is granted, and he is awarded an effective date of June 21, 2013 for his right knee arthroscopic surgical scars. The claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy and right elbow olecranon bursitis with spur are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence added by VA, including VA treatment records and a new VA examination. The Veteran must either request AOJ review or waive it.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral chondromalacia, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the condition is related to active duty service. The decision was based on the Veteran's lay statements of continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee disability is denied, but he is granted a separate award of service connection for left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, low back, and left lower extremity nerve disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further development.