Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed and that VA examinations should be conducted to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities. The case is therefore being remanded for these actions.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The left knee disability does not warrant a compensable rating. The left shoulder tendonitis is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred as a result of treatment at Watauga County Medical Center on March 15, 2006 and June 19, 2006 due to the non-emergent nature of the care provided.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and low back conditions in December 2005. The veteran has submitted new evidence, but it is not considered material to the claims as it does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of service-connected residuals of brain trauma, pterygium of the right eye, and diplopia were denied. The claim for service connection for a left knee condition was not addressed as it is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee and low back disorders did not have their inception during service or are otherwise related to service. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating schedules.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disorders were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the postoperative right knee arthroscopy with a torn meniscus was maintained, and the claim for an initial or staged rating in excess of 60 percent for total knee replacement was also denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded to the Compensation and Pension Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis due to significant interference with employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of proximate causation.

The Board found that the veteran's current patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee was not present until many years after service and is not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has found that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected, but left knee disability remains unresolved due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and found that it is related to the veteran's active duty service. The issue of an increased rating for right knee bursitis remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of a right knee injury, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus related to active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's hypertension or left ankle, knee, and hip disabilities to service or service-connected disability. The claims for secondary service connection were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a left knee injury are being remanded to allow for further development, including consideration of his original service treatment records.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back strain with degenerative changes, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with meniscus tear are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled videoconference hearing. He has been given the option of a Travel Board hearing instead.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.