Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran currently has disabilities involving his right shoulder and knees, and whether these disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The veteran's service connection claim for an undifferentiated somatoform disorder and joint pain was granted, with a rating of 40 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine. The issue regarding joint pain remains unresolved.

The veteran's right knee chondromalacia is rated at 30 percent, while his left knee disability (including degenerative joint disease) is rated at 10 percent. The Board has also granted a separate 10 percent rating for the veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's current right knee arthritis, which may be related to his physical training during periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service. The case will then be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The VA has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's status postoperative left knee meniscectomy with instability, and a 10 percent evaluation for his degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee. These evaluations have been continued.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, low back, and neck disabilities due to a lack of current medical evidence showing these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral knee arthroplasty contributed to deep vein thrombosis, which in turn caused his fatal stroke. The Board has determined that the service-connected knee condition substantially contributed to cause the veteran's death.

The Board found that there is no relationship between the veteran's current right leg and knee disabilities and his service-connected right foot disability. The veteran's right leg and knee disabilities are determined to be age-related.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are not related to his period of service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or presumption of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as they are primarily manifested by degenerative changes, some limitation of flexion, pain, and fatigability.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a direct service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The veteran's current left knee disability is not considered to be caused by or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left ankle.

Service connection was not granted for an anxiety disorder due to overlap with PTSD. Increased ratings were denied for lumbar strain, patellofemoral pain syndromes of both knees, and hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to any event or injury during active service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied, but his left knee tendonitis was increased to a 20 percent rating effective from the date of receipt of his claim. He also received an initial (separate) 10 percent rating for left knee laxity effective from the same date.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective February 11, 2003.,The veteran also received a grant of TDIU based on his PTSD and left knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since June 19, 2001. The rating is based on moderate instability and arthritis with painful motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the knees or bursitis of the right shoulder related to her military service and therefore denied both claims.