Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the credibility of the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology since the in-service injury and to obtain an addendum opinion as to whether any residuals of the Veteran's in-service injury may have negatively affected the outcome of his post-service knee injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

For the period between January 1, 2009 and July 29, 2012, the Veteran's status post total left knee replacement was manifested by symptoms of severe painful motion, instability, and weakness.,Beginning on and after October 1, 2012, the Veteran's status post total left knee replacement has manifest with intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, limitation of motion, and moderate instability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA medical examination and consideration of whether referral to the Director of Compensation Service for an extraschedular TDIU is proper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various conditions, as well as a claim for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Board has determined that these claims require additional development and will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left foot disabilities are not related to his service-connected back disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his right shoulder disability and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected pes planus. The claim for a neck disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and left elbow. The Veteran's claims for headaches, vertigo, gastrointestinal disorder, left elbow disorder, and right and left knee disorders are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity that they effectively preclude him from securing or following all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion since July 2009, warrants a separate 20 percent rating under DC 5258. The existing 20 percent rating for right knee instability remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to his right knee condition. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of outstanding Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including updated VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

For the period from February 9, 2007 to September 21, 2009, a rating of 30 percent for right knee post-operative residuals is granted.,For the period starting November 1, 2010, a separate 10 percent rating for right knee post-operative total arthroplasty with a surgical scar is granted.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent prior to September 6, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter. His lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent. The Board granted the increased rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease and denied the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the severity of his symptoms not warranting a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.