Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 16, 2009 at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center is granted as the treatment was deemed to be emergency care and he met the eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the extent of his left knee disability, specifically any additional limitation of motion due to functional factors. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board notes that the RO has not considered whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his right ankle and left knee disorders, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate examination and need for updated treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, status-post contusion.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by a meniscus tear with degenerative changes, was evaluated at 20 percent prior to March 14, 2007. The evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, as well as left knee DJD secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or aggravation.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating each for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, status post arthroscopy, effective October 16, 2010.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left knee disability and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with prior myocardial infarction and stents is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The right knee disability has been granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeals of the issues of whether current 20 percent evaluations for right and left knee arthritis were clearly and unmistakably erroneous have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for sciatic nerve pain and reopening a previously denied claim for service connection for a back disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a social and industrial survey. The claim will be reviewed again after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the current condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to hypertension and a left knee disorder, including obtaining a medical opinion on the relevance of in-service high blood pressure readings and formal readjudication of the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disorder is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support this determination. The claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case.