Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a scheduling issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his right knee disorder and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no specific effective date provided due to the mixed disposition of her claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess current impairment due to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left ankle, and bilateral knee conditions have been granted. The diagnoses are all related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee status post arthroscopic repair of medial meniscal tear, finding that there was no evidence linking the current right knee condition to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder, right shoulder disorder, left and right ankle disorders, left and right knee disorders, arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), hypertension, and a neurological disorder (headaches) have all been denied. The Board found that none of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee and status post surgery for torn medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments with partial tear of the medial meniscus. The RO has remanded these issues to obtain additional records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining records from Therapy Direct and addressing the service connection for a right ankle condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for accrued benefits and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation due to the severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus, as well as her request for retroactive payment based on an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's current left knee disorder was incurred in service, and thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for his claimed low back, right knee, bilateral hip, and left ankle disorders. The evidence fails to show an in-service event or injury related to these conditions, nor is there any indication of continuity of symptomatology post-service. As such, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and tinnitus, but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis of the right knee may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's left knee condition is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection (November 10, 1998), and his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome claim has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal concerning an initial compensable rating for a left knee scar has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to further evaluate her service-connected left ring finger and little finger disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee degenerative changes was denied. The RO increased the rating from 10 to 30 percent effective August 3, 2009. Service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending.