Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's total right knee arthroplasty has worsened, and an additional examination is needed to determine the current level of severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and hepatitis.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are denied increased ratings. Other service connection claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, kidney disorder, and right shoulder disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted. The right ankle and right knee disabilities, as well as the acquired psychiatric disorder, are all remanded for further development.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for a right knee disability, evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for left shoulder strain, evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for left ankle strain, and evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for dermatitis. The case is REMANDED to obtain new examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (28 Vet. App. 158) and provide opinions on the etiology of the right knee disability and the severity of the left shoulder, left ankle, and dermatitis disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his alcohol dependence is not service-connected. The low back, hip, knee, and leg disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his right great toe disability and service connection for a left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 2, 2011. An effective date of December 2, 2011 is granted for eligibility to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification regarding the Veteran's use of assistive devices and the presence of knee instability. The claims are being remanded for a new examination with an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's right knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension with arthritis is granted. The left knee disability claim has been remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding its etiology.,Service connection for the left knee disability will be considered secondary to the service-connected right knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and there was no evidence of aggravation. The Board also found no medical nexus between his current right knee disability and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals include requests for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates for service connection. The Board has determined that the issues should be remanded due to new evidence submitted after a final decision.

The Veteran seeks TDIU and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits prior to March 22, 2012. The Board finds these issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim and remands both matters.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms and limitations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left foot and right foot disabilities, lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy of the lower extremities, as well as increased ratings for these conditions. The appeals are currently on appeal due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left ankle, and left hamstring disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses in the medical records.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD and granted a TDIU, finding the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.