Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee and cervical spine disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability or other injuries, as well as whether they are secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in his needing assistance with many of his activities of daily living, including bathing and dressing his lower extremities. Due to poor balance and ambulation caused by his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities, he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect himself from hazards such as falling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disorder, nerve damage of the right lower extremity, and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and denied his claims for increased ratings for left ankle, hip, and low back disorders as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders. A medical examination is needed to determine if his current knee conditions are as likely as not related to his service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records from SSA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities were denied. The RO/AMC found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and low back disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee disability, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee disability and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran had other disabilities, but did not grant service connection for them.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO found that the current evaluations were appropriate, and no new evidence was submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow arthritis, right knee ligament repair residuals and arthritis, and right ankle fracture residuals have been granted with initial noncompensable evaluations effective July 1, 2005. The RO increased the evaluation for his right elbow arthritis to 10 percent in October 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of service records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, depressive disorder, arthralgias in multiple joints, headaches, and fatigue, idiopathic fasciculation (muscle twitching), tinnitus, chondromalacia patella of the bilateral knees, left shoulder tendonitis, post-operative scar tissue, and chronic sinusitis with nosebleeds, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a bilateral knee disability and skin conditions, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, anxiety disorder, and residuals of a left ankle injury. The claim for a bilateral knee disability was previously denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability or link to service. The claims for anxiety disorder and left ankle injury were not established as they did not have inception during service.