Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any right knee disorder and the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for multiple lower extremity disorders, including bilateral foot, ankle, knee, and hip conditions. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development, including VA examinations. His TDIU claim is also being remanded as the necessary documentation has not been provided.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the service connection claims for a left leg scar, right knee disability, right hand scar, scar from spider bite, and left shoulder disability. The Veteran also withdrew his appeals for increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes lateral instability and limitation of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a separate rating for noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left and right knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for a thorough examination and consideration of the current state of her conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the acquisition of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee strain with degenerative joint disease, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his in-service medical records and private treatment records. Additionally, VA examinations are required for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, bilateral shin disorders, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's initial rating for his right knee disability, which was granted in February 2006 and is rated at 30 percent, has been upheld. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as status post total knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new medical treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disorder and instability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss or a right knee disability attributable to service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered in light of his educational and occupational background, are of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their CUE motion regarding the June 8, 2011 decision denying increased disability ratings for various conditions. As a result, the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left hip disability that he contends is secondary to his service-connected right knee internal derangement status post anterior cruciate ligament repair. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to evaluate the relationship between these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, which is now considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability was initially rated at 10 percent from October 1, 2010. The rating has been increased to 20 percent effective October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees was not present in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to his military service or service-connected lumbosacral strain. As such, service connection for this condition is denied.