Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination of the veteran's knees to assess current symptomology and functional loss due to pain. The veteran is advised that failure to report to the scheduled examination may result in a denial of his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee injury with chondromalacia and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), right arm disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral leg disability. The claim for reopening the low back and left arm and hand disabilities was also denied.

The Board has determined that the RO failed to provide proper VCAA notice and is therefore remanding the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, bilateral hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee pain and left hip pain.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination of the veteran's left knee. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's multiple service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities prevent him from achieving a vocational goal, thus denying additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31.

The Board found that the reduction from 40 percent to 30 percent was warranted, but not from 30 percent to 10 percent. The veteran's right knee disability rating remains at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current chronic left knee disability associated with his active military duty and therefore, service connection for residuals of a left knee injury is denied.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted, with his combined disability rating reaching 90 percent due to the addition of service-connected major depressive disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the back disability claim.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a postoperative unstable left knee, finding that no new and material evidence had been received. The RO also denied his claims for service connection for right knee disability and entrapment neuropathies of the upper extremities on the merits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is granted as service connected, and it was found to be a subsequent manifestation of her previously service-connected generalized osteoarthritis in the left knee.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The case is being remanded for further development of service treatment records and consideration of the veteran's claims, including a potential secondary service connection claim for left knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing left knee injury did not worsen during service, and thus cannot be granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury.