Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective February 2002.,Prior to January 14, 2004, the right knee disability was rated at 10 percent. Since March 1, 2005, it has been rated at 30 percent.,The veteran's appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral leg disorder and left knee disorder, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for left knee chondromalacia.

The veteran's service-connected low back and knee disorders are considered in determining his chronic pain syndrome. The Board finds that he does not have a separately compensable chronic pain syndrome secondary to any of his service-connected conditions. However, the veteran has depression that is due to his service-connected disorders.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee with limitation of flexion, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension. The veteran's claim for an increased rating is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims and earlier effective date claims. The RO must attempt to obtain in-patient clinical hospital records from Fort McClellan, Fort Polk, and Alexandria VA Medical Center.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the knees and skin disorder are not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, as well as further development of his claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, manifested by flexion limited to 100 degrees and other symptoms like pain, weakness, and lack of endurance, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's traumatic arthritis of both knees is proximately due to and a result of his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound, right foot with fracture os calcis, arthritis, and posterior tibial neuropathy. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for a right knee disability, as there is still an unestablished fact (the nexus between the current disability and in-service disease or injury) required to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected torn meniscus of the right knee and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as there was no evidence of moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability in the knees.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and to obtain additional medical records. The issues are related to the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected left wrist fracture, right knee injury, and lumbar strain.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The specific issue of an increased disability rating for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee remains on hold until further notice.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for vertigo as secondary to service-connected ear disorders, but denied service connection for a right knee disability. The veteran's right knee injury during service is not presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including total right knee replacement, lumbar stenosis, and total left knee replacement, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the claim for TDIU.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability, on a direct incurrence basis only, and a low back disability, including as secondary to service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left ankle.,The RO also denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, on a direct incurrence basis only.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right knee injury residuals, finding that the November 1978 and March 1996 decisions were final based on evidence in the claims file. The September 15, 1997 submission was considered the earliest to reopen the claim.