Knee decisions — 2008

The veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10% each, reflecting limitation of motion.

The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee is rated at 20 percent, and her degenerative joint disease, patellar femoral syndrome, and chondromalacia are each rated at 10 percent. The VA has determined that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of her conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities based on aggravation by the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection was also granted for a left knee disability, but it remains pending as there is no opinion linking this condition to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his service-connected right tibia fracture with right knee complications, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that no chronic disability was incurred in or related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for PTSD, and bilateral knee disorder were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors related to PTSD. Service connection for a low back disorder, neck disorder, lower leg disorder, and hypertension were also denied as secondary to service-connected left ankle disability or unrelated to service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability, which he claims was incurred during his reserve duty or active duty in 2002. The VA needs to verify the veteran's reported periods of service and obtain any associated medical records before deciding on the merits of this claim.

The Board found that the veteran currently does not have a right shoulder disability and denied service connection for this condition. The left knee condition is still pending as it was granted service connection in a separate decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and a disability manifested by knots under the skin were all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence/aggravation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for pes planus and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for an impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, with postoperative residuals of an arthroscopy.

The veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The case will be reviewed after additional evaluations are conducted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have additional disability of his knees as a result of VA surgical treatment in July 2000 and July 1998. The surgeries did not cause any new or increased disability.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of his anxiety disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability, specifically post-traumatic headaches. The right ankle, left knee, cervical spine, and post-traumatic headache ratings remain unchanged.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and a low back disorder. The claim for migraine headaches was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee conditions. The veteran is also entitled to an increased rating for his disabilities.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia patellae, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 27, 2005, or a rating higher than 10 percent thereafter.

The Board finds that the veteran's multiple joint disability, including elbows, hips, knees, and ankles, is at least as likely as not related to his service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's right knee injury with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was granted.