Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling him for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her lumbar spine disability is granted, effective from January 1, 2014. Her right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and varicose veins are rated as appropriate. The left knee claim to reopen and the lower extremity varicose veins effective date claim are referred back to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify the stressor event and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring all available VA and non-VA treatment records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and private treatment records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing updated medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each, reflecting the severity of his symptoms including frequent episodes of pain, locking, and effusion into the joints.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the right and left knees, as well as bilateral pes planus, were denied. The VA examinations did not find any moderate or severe symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right hip disability, depressive disorder, fatigue disorder, throat disorder, shoulder joint pain, left hip bursitis, and left knee strain. The decision also addressed issues related to melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, nevus, toe joint disorders, and a bilateral leg condition (claimed as muscle pain).

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to April 9, 2010. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's DJD of the right and left knees were found to be incurred during service, resulting in a grant of service connection. A compensable initial rating of 20 percent was assigned for his right shoulder pain with limited range of motion.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral leg disorders, bilateral hip disorders, and bilateral knee disorders are all service connected as they were aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service connected, as it was not shown to be incurred or aggravated by his military service. The claim for secondary service connection based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition (his left knee) was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence of a right knee injury during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional development. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran had a pre-existing right knee disorder prior to his military service, whether it was aggravated during service, and if not, whether there is a direct link between his current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, or left hip condition. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain private medical records, provide the Veteran with VA examinations for his right shoulder and knee disabilities, and address whether any current disabilities are related to service.