Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of a left knee disability caused or aggravated by the service-connected right knee traumatic arthropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claims. The appellant should be afforded examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's 10% rating for posterior cruciate insufficiency, right knee, was restored as the reduction to a noncompensable rating was improper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The specific claims of service connection and higher evaluations remain pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant medical records, including those from St. Elizabeth Health Center, Cafaro Hospital, and St. Benedicts Hospital, as well as any VA treatment records not already associated with the file.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle, shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities have been denied. The most recent VA examination found that the Veteran had full range of motion in all affected joints.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial disability ratings for right knee status post ACL reconstruction with chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, arranging for appropriate examinations, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected major depressive disorder with chronic anxiety features. The claims for sinusitis, unexplained weight gain and body inflammation, exhaustion, excessive sweating, skin disability, right foot and ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee ACL tear has been characterized by limitation of flexion to 115 degrees, limited due to pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling, lack of endurance, locking, and tenderness. The Board finds that the disability is rated at the highest rating provided under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records, including those from his VA treatment. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee disability, cardiovascular condition, neck disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability have been reopened. Claims for scars of the face and head and residuals of a right thumb and hand injury were not reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and left hip joint disability, both found to be secondary to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's patellafemoral syndrome of the left knee is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain his service treatment records from his reserve unit and Records Management Center. The appellant will be provided a Supplemental Statement of the Case if the benefits are not granted.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection for right knee and back disorders, but these issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and thus there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee, post-operative is incurred during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including for evaluations of his lumbar strain, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right elbow, right knee, or bilateral foot disability.,The Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability is not service-connected as it is more likely age-related than related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-operative residuals of degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 20 percent since August 24, 2007. The Board found that the functional loss associated with the condition more nearly approximated a limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or extension to 15 degrees.