Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development of the evidence is required to comply with VA's duty to assist the Veteran in the development of the facts pertinent to his claims for service connection for left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as an increased rating for a back disability. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity to submit additional evidence and respond to any supplemental SOC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her right knee disability and dermatitis.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of an appendectomy and denied service connection for hypercholesterolemia. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are still pending issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The claims for left knee strain, anterior cruciate ligament injury and tendon injury, and respiratory/pulmonary disabilities are inextricably intertwined with the current appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's total left knee replacement due to osteoarthritis is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 60 percent, effective from November 10, 2007.

The Veteran's left hip cyst and chronic left knee arthralgia with limitation of motion have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's ITP, status post splenectomy, and WPW syndrome is pending.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the claim of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer prior to December 1, 2009, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter. The remaining claims of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee are addressed.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a left knee disability and a higher initial disability evaluation for PTSD. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations prior to October 13, 2011 were denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion or instability that warranted a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent from March 3, 2005 to November 22, 2005, and in excess of 10 percent beginning February 1, 2006, for osteoarthritis of the left knee was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity numbness and pain, degenerative arthritis of the left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board found no evidence of chronic knee and heel disabilities during service, and the Veteran's lay claims regarding such are not credible. Therefore, the Veteran's bilateral knee and heel disabilities including arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left knee and cervical spine disabilities are granted. The issue of a higher initial rating for low back disability is remanded due to evidence suggesting an increase in severity since the last examination.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for a right knee disability, but not for a left knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. As a result, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder and arm disorders, and PTSD. The evidence submitted since July 2001 is not considered new and material to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a review of his employment capabilities and referral to the VA's Director of Compensation and Pension for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right knee arthritis is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5257 or 5003-5257.