Knee decisions — 2008

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a thorough medical examination and review of the claims file.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and left knee injury, to include arthritis, as further development is needed.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation of an injury or disease, and medical evidence of a nexus between the current disability and the in-service disease or injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such a condition during service or within one year thereafter and that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that his current left knee disorder is related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The veteran's service connection for migraine headaches was granted, while the claims for arthritis of the bilateral hands and fingers, wrists, and knees were remanded.

The veteran's left knee injury residuals are manifested by some limitation of motion and mild arthritis, but no objective findings of instability or subluxation. An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the condition is not warranted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the competent evidence did not establish that he has a disability recognized by VA.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability as it was not shown during service and is not due to or aggravated by the veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of fractures to the 6th and 7th posterior ribs with hypertrophic changes at T-7, T-8 was remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant was denied because the evidence did not show that he had loss or loss of use of at least one lower extremity, which is required to establish entitlement.

The veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension of the right knee, but no increased rating was granted for the left knee.

The claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury was reopened based on new and material evidence, but ultimately denied as the evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current right knee disability was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder are being remanded for an examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any currently diagnosed low back or right knee disorders.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a medical examination and verifying any in-service stressors related to PTSD.

The veteran's right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders are service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder and left knee disability as there was no evidence that the veteran's claimed disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left hip disability as secondary to pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder based on the opinion of a VA examiner that it more likely than not originated in service.

The veteran's right total knee arthroplasty residuals and right thigh gunshot wound residuals with Muscle Group XIII injury were granted increased evaluations to 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease was denied an increase in evaluation.