Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of whether an extra-schedular rating is warranted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a back disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The appeals are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent as it did not show more than slight limitation of motion, due to pain (compensable limitations of flexion and extension are not shown); subluxation and/or instability were not shown; and the knee was not ankylosed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his incarceration and inability to appear for a scheduled hearing. He seeks service connection for hepatitis C, left knee bursitis/tendonitis, and an increased rating for right ankle DJD.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his knee conditions. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 20% each, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 30% is warranted for both knees.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for left knee arthritis with dislocated semilunar cartilage and a separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability, both effective August 4, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty, personnel and medical records from his service in the National Guard and Army Reserves, as well as a VA examination for his bilateral knees, hips, and left foot.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected knee and ankle conditions, including myofascial pain syndrome with lateral laxity in both ankles, chronic tears of the lateral meniscus with patellofemoral joint syndrome in the right knee, limitation of extension in the right knee, and patellofemoral joint syndrome in the left knee. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's follow-up visits with his private surgeon for his service-connected right knee disability were authorized by VA and reimbursable under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1703; 38 C.F.R. § 17.52(a)(2).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records. An addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability and left knee disability will also be obtained.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, a back disorder, a left hip disorder, a right hip disorder, and a personality disorder at her May 2013 Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury during service and concluded that the current right knee DJD is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and left knee disorder have all been denied as they are not related to his military service.