Knee Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical examination and development for the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and is not related to his service-connected mechanical low back pain with lumbarization of L1 and scoliosis. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes, as they do not meet the criteria for more severe limitations of motion or instability.

The Veteran's left and right ankle degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 20 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and ligament instability are both currently rated at 10 percent each, with a separate 20 percent rating for ligament instability of the right knee prior to May 2, 2017, and higher than 20 percent from that date.,There is no specific service connection theory provided in this decision.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are found to be service-connected based on direct evidence of their onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, right elbow disorder, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder.,There is no indication of a presumptive basis for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability and instability have been rated at 20 percent since May 1996, with a separate rating of 20 percent for instability effective February 5, 2009. The current ratings are maintained.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his left knee instability is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, venous insufficiency, hypertension, sleep apnea, and morbid obesity. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, finding that his flexion limitation did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC based on his 100% schedular rating for schizophrenia and additional disabilities rated at 60% or more. For the period prior to January 31, 2007, the criteria for a TDIU are not met.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are at least as likely as not etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated contact information and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons for denying separate evaluations for left and right knee instability. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records, undergo a VA examination, and have their claims reassessed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee strain is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination. The Veteran's right foot disability has already been rated as high as possible under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The case will be remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, determine the current severity of his knee disabilities and TDIU claim, and provide appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted effective from April 4, 2014. The claim for service connection is now considered substantiated.