Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability (limitation of flexion) is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on evidence showing limited range of motion without additional functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his military service for any of the claimed conditions, and thus denied all claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and determine the relationship between his service-connected back disability and his right hip and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by meniscal tears, locking, pain, stiffness/freezing, and giving way necessitating the use of a brace and cane for ambulation, is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular percentage requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, and there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability. The issue remains on hold until further notice.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and awarded an increased rating of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss effective February 20, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran also had his request to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, knees, feet, elbows, hands, and neck denied.

The Veteran is found to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities, and therefore qualifies for special monthly compensation based on that need.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral knee disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right wrist disability, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for hypertension was not addressed as it is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are likely to have had their onset during active military service. The back disorder and bilateral foot disorder issues were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the prescribed dosage of Divalproex.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The appeal concerning whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims for service connection for left ankle and bilateral foot disabilities is dismissed.

The Veteran's gout, depressive disorder with alcohol abuse in early remission, cognitive disorder NOS, and opioid dependence, DDD and spondylosis of the cervical spine, DDD, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, with DJD of the thoracic spine, and right knee DJD have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are at least as likely as not of such severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.