Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities and obtaining treatment records from the Navy Hospital at Mucosa.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 18, 2009 and for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and military personnel records, as well as a VA examination. The issues are whether the Veteran has a bilateral foot disability and/or a bilateral leg/knee disability that is related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee replacement and associated conditions, has been rated at 100% since December 8, 2010. The rating will remain at 100% until July 1, 2014 when it was reduced to 30%.

The Board has determined that the issues on appeal are more appropriately characterized as service connection claims. The Veteran's left knee and ankle disorders have been remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records, including VA treatment records and physical therapy records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and associated complications, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person to manage his insulin pump and administer insulin.

The Board determined that there is no current diagnosis for a right knee disability, and the left knee injury during service did not result in chronic residuals. The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms were noted but no specific diagnoses of anxiety or insomnia were found.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess her knee conditions and migraine headaches. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering the appropriate diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia and mild degenerative joint disease are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or instability warranting an increased rating.

The Veteran's SMC based on aid and attendance for his service-connected disabilities, including right knee injury, chondromalacia of the left knee, and lumbar spine disability, was granted effective May 14, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his pre-existing condition, leading to current severity of the right knee disability. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding that obesity may have contributed to the development of hypertension due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's additional right knee disability is not deemed to be caused by VA hospital care, and the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being reviewed.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since June 1, 2015 for limitation of extension. The rating is based on the current clinical findings and diagnostic codes applicable to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus tear, is currently rated at 100 percent due to the need for a total knee arthroplasty. The right knee scar is not compensable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not due to service and denied both direct and secondary service connection.