Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his low back disorder, finding no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his active service. The left knee condition was also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have arisen from a common etiology, namely the 1964 military police incident. The combined disability evaluation of these conditions is 60 percent, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I, is granted under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to VA's failure to inform her of abnormal blood glucose test results. Service connection for a neurologic disorder of the extremities, gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral eye disorder are denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions. Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits information. The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination for his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for right and left knee disabilities were granted with separate 10% evaluations due to subluxation. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was also granted a 20% evaluation. However, the Veteran's PTSD claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from his Muskogee VAMC. The issues of increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for any of the claimed conditions, including bilateral hip disorder, right knee degenerative changes, left knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, or lumbar spine arthritis. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for further development of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate evidence and the need for additional VA treatment records, updated income information, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further adjudication consistent with the Court's decision.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for reinstatement of a 10 percent disability evaluation for his service-connected osteomalacia of the right knee with Osgood Schlatter and degenerative osteoarthritis, effective from February 1, 2005.

The Veteran's right knee disability, associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome, is rated at 30 percent from August 3, 2004. A separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify the nature and severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated information on the Veteran's military service and providing proper VCAA notice regarding how to establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected shin splints of the right and left tibia/fibula are currently productive of slight knee or ankle disability, which does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and lower extremity disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed eye disability, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic neck condition, and chronic back condition as not well grounded. The appeal is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder warrants a 30 percent evaluation effective from February 2, 2004.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service records and requests for additional evidence.