Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from July 1, 2005 to May 15, 2013 and was rated at 30 percent. From May 16, 2013, it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee DJD were granted increased ratings of 20%, effective July 25, 2011. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied.,No new evidence or changes in the existing service-connected conditions were presented that would warrant reopening the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral leg disorder is not service-connected, but his low back disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected pilonidal cyst condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted a 30 percent rating for major depressive disorder. The left knee disability is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are being remanded for further review.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but remanding them to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development. The Veteran's left knee disability, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities are being examined again due to new evidence.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically instability and degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, have been granted increased ratings effective November 22, 2013. The current ratings are 30 percent for each knee.

The Veteran's initial claims for service connection were received more than one year after his discharge from service, so the earliest possible effective date is March 13, 2009.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of October 22, 2003. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was also granted based on the same effective date due to permanent total disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected excision of the head of the left radius, was denied. The Board found new and material evidence but did not establish service connection due to lack of causation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and arranging for VA examinations to address service connection claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right ankle, old avulsion fracture of the left ankle, bilateral status post total knee replacement, low back condition, and sciatic nerve condition, did not begin in service or until many years after service and cannot be linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected left ankle fracture, effective from the date of examination. The Veteran's right knee and right hip disorders are not found to be secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and arranging for an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the May 2011 VA examination to address his psychiatric and left knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a VLJ no longer being employed by the Board. The appellant is requested to appear at a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability is pending.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 20 percent disabling for limitation of extension, but not higher. The Veteran is also in receipt of a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for left knee laxity/instability. A higher initial rating is denied.