Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for left knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for arthritis/degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's left knee subluxation prior to June 8, 2011 is rated at 10 percent. From August 1, 2012, the Veteran does not have evidence of recurrent subluxation warranting a separate evaluation.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for the service-connected right knee total arthroplasty residuals from March 1, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and providing the Veteran with an opportunity to submit private treatment records. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorders and reopening a previously denied claim regarding right lower lobe resection are also addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to address the etiology of any bilateral foot and bilateral knee disabilities, including plantar fasciitis and patellofemoral chondromalacia of the knees.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his low back and cervical spine disabilities, right knee disability, or radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's current right knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the Veteran's left knee disorder.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, residuals of L4-L5 discectomy, is rated at 40 percent and his osteoarthritis of the right and left knees are each rated at 10 percent. The current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee conditions, including VA and private treatment records from the Biloxi VAMC.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current left knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral heel spurs, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, and bilateral shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, bilateral hip and low back disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since February 1, 2013. The rating is based on the current range of motion and symptoms associated with his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his videoconference Board hearing. The issues of service connection for right ankle strain and instability, right knee are still under consideration.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as a strain with internal derangement and mild degenerative changes, is related to her active military service. The Board grants this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia patella and patellar bursitis, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are related to his in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error, and the Veteran's address of record needs to be confirmed. The Veteran will be scheduled for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.