Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of her left knee disability and determine if any right knee or back issues are secondary to her service-connected left knee disorder. The Veteran's PTSD and menstrual claims will also be scheduled for a Board videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a right knee disability, left ankle disability, chest pain, or bilateral hand disability.,Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective April 1, 2011. The left ankle and right knee disabilities are both rated at their maximum of 20 percent.

For the entire rating period on appeal, the degenerative joint disease of the right knee has been manifested by meniscal tear; frequent flare-ups that result in increased pain and swelling; popping, grinding, and buckling of the knee; and locking of the knee. The criteria for a disability rating of 20 percent have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, arranging for examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities, and scheduling a social and industrial survey.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and right knee chondromalacia are currently rated at the minimum 10% level based on limitation of motion. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation as there is no ankylosis, limited extension, symptomatic knee with cartilage removal, impairment of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, bilateral knee arthritis (including gout), and mild obstructive pulmonary disease including COPD are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of any chronic symptoms or diagnoses related to these conditions during active service. The disabilities were first manifested many years after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage rating standards for TDIU. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and readjudication, including consideration of an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for gouty arthritis of the hands and fingers.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability did not manifest during service and is not related to her military service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining clarification of and support for the September 2011 VA medical opinion regarding service connection claims. The Veteran's claims file should be provided to the appropriate examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of the VA examiner's consideration of the Veteran's in-service diagnoses and injuries with regard to his current foot and knee conditions. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his left knee disability has been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be scheduled for an in-person hearing at the RO in Detroit, Michigan.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ankle disorder. His left knee and left ankle disorders are not service-connected.,His patellar chondromalacia of both knees is not shown to be etiologically related to an injury or illness incurred during his active duty service, nor did osteoarthritis of the left ankle manifest within one year after discharge.

The Veteran died in October 2007 and had no pending claims for VA benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, there was no accrued benefit to be paid as he did not have any unpaid periodic monetary benefits due.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his musculoskeletal conditions and abdominal injury, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right lumbar spine radiculopathy has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and an increased rating for the right knee disability are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and assigned an effective date of September 11, 2008. The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent disabling, while painful limitation of motion of the right knee is rated at 10 percent. The left ureteral calculus (kidney stone) has been rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his military service. The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disorder during service, and the medical evidence does not show treatment or diagnosis of these problems until 20 years after service.,Service connection for bilateral wrist, right thumb, bilateral eye, and right knee disabilities was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, diabetes mellitus, type II, and various orthopedic conditions. The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.