Knee decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination to assess his current knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his knee disorders and skin disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are as likely as not secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,There is no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's current left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has found no evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder, right knee disorder, or hypertension to his period of service. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board Hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, and reopening the claim for left knee disorder are still pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and foot disability (claimed as radiculopathy) and an increased rating for residuals of a compression fracture at L2 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee disability, including chondrocalcinosis and status post arthroscopic surgery for torn lateral meniscus of the left knee, is not due to any event or incident of his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unfit for employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA appeal records and VA treatment records.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and laxity, does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent based on these conditions. The limitation of extension is currently assigned a non-compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as these conditions were not shown to be related to active service.

The veteran's right hip disorder is presumed to have been incurred in service and granted a 10% disability rating. The patellofemoral dysfunction of the right knee and plantar fasciitis of the right foot are not related to his service-connected low back strain, and thus do not warrant service connection. For the period prior to December 10, 2007, the veteran's low back strain is rated at 20%.

The Board has ordered the RO/AMC to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct a VA examination for the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disability and back disorder. The purpose is to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left knee condition and back condition are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral wrist weakness, head pain, chest pain, foot pain, leg pain, and knee pain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with a 30 percent rating assigned for his left total knee replacement from November 10, 2006. The other issues remain pending.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current disability associated with his claimed chest pains and has no right knee disorder related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, a back disorder, and right and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that resulted in current disability.