Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about stressors and verifying diagnoses of PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee condition, characterized by limited extension and flexion, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative changes (arthritis) of the lumbosacral spine and arthritis of major joints, to include knees, shoulders, and wrists, were not incurred as a result of an incident of active service nor as a result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, combining a 20 percent rating for instability under Code 5257 and a 10 percent rating for arthritis with painful motion under Codes 5010, 5003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience, thus denying the claim for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right above the knee amputation, finding no evidence of a diagnosed condition or that VA care caused the injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertension, bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus with bunion (right foot), and chondromalacia patella of both knees. The veteran was not granted any new disability ratings or service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral knee strain is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and consideration of extraschedular evaluation due to employment impact.

The Board found no evidence of current left knee, right knee, or low back disabilities and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for back disability is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability as secondary to his left knee chondromalacia patella and denied an increased rating for his left knee chondromalacia. The decision also noted that the claim for direct service connection of the right knee was not addressed due to its overlap with the previous denial.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete evidence and need for examinations.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination of his left ankle disability, and obtaining Social Security Administration records. The claims are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the case can be adjudicated, and thus the appeal is REMANDED to the RO for further action.

The veteran's service-connected anterior poliomyelitis has caused significant weakness in his right upper and lower extremities, but the evidence does not support an award of SMC based on loss of use due to these conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, as well as bilateral knee conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's initial rating for his left foot fracture was denied, and a higher rating of 30% is granted starting February 1, 2002. Service connection for PTSD remains denied. The claim for service connection on the secondary basis for the left knee disability has been reopened.