Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee status post arthroplasty with degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and hip disabilities are pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining records from SSA, VA treatment records, and any relevant service treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with a cardiology examination to determine if his coronary artery disease began during service or is related to service. He will also be afforded orthopedic examinations for his right and left knee disabilities as well as his neck disability.

The Veteran and the appellant were legally separated for the entire period on appeal prior to August [redacted], 2009, when their divorce became final. The Veteran has been in receipt of service-connected disability ratings for his low back disorder, left knee disorder, irritable bowel syndrome with hiatal hernia, right knee disorder, and left wrist disorder. The appellant was not entitled to an apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits due to her reasonable discharge of support responsibilities.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the lack of adequate VA examination reports. The service connection claim for amputation of the left leg below the knee is also inextricably intertwined with the SMC claim.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and instability have been rated at 10 percent each, effective from the dates of their respective grants of service connection. The current ratings are not higher.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee and chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were denied as his conditions are rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee and right ankle, migraine headaches, and nerve damage to the left eye. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability or any other etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, resulting from a total knee replacement, is productive of chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion and weakness following implantation of the prosthesis. The Board finds that a 60 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, right knee arthritis and medial meniscus tear, left knee arthritis and lytic lesion, and low back degenerative joint disease.,Service connection has been established for all issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly dependency and indemnity compensation (SMC or increased DIC) based on need for aid and attendance of another person, or being housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, as it was incurred during his period of active duty for training in April 2000.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his low back, left knee, right knee, and irritable bowel syndrome disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and sciatic nerve disorders are not related to her active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and arthritis of the lower extremities. The evidence includes VA medical records showing current diagnoses, as well as lay statements attesting to continuity of symptoms since military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, tinnitus, right and left leg numbness, ear pain, and dry eyes are presumed to have been incurred as a result of active duty service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as pain only, was not incurred or aggravated by his active service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to arthritis developing within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and seeking private medical records. The Veteran's left knee disability is being evaluated to determine if it began during active service or is related to any incident of service.