Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disability and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The residuals of a fracture of the right ring and little fingers are not compensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a clarifying medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right knee disability and any diagnosed left knee and right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have not been rated higher than the current 10 percent disability ratings.

The Board finds that the recoupment of severance pay from the compensable ratings assigned for the service-connected bilateral knee disabilities was proper, and thus denies the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if he is entitled to an extra-schedular rating for his right knee disability and/or a TDIU on that basis. His claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as secondary to medication prescribed for his right knee disability, has also been raised.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current right knee disability, left shin rash, and dry cough. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia patella with a history of patellofemoral syndrome ratings from 40 to 10 percent was proper, and the criteria for a restoration of the 40 percent rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee, diffuse arthritis of the bilateral feet, and diffuse ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine with sclerosis of both sacroiliac joints.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions are denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any current disability and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral leg condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and determining if he is receiving Social Security Administration benefits.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current essential hypertension was not related to military service due to a lack of evidence of diagnosis during service and contradictory statements regarding its onset.,Service connection for a right knee disorder, claimed as secondary to a left knee disability, was also denied. The VA examiner concluded that the right knee disorder is more likely related to natural aging rather than any in-service injury or condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee is presumed to be related to his service as a POW, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which resulted in a total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent. The VA has determined that the current level of disability does not warrant an evaluation higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the knees, which is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle, has been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the knee condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the source of the Veteran's Methadone and Oxycodone usage, as well as whether there was willful misconduct involved in his death. The case is remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left and right knee disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature of any pre-existing conditions, their relationship to service, and whether they are aggravated by periods of active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right knee is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Board finds that the Veteran's unemployability is a result of his service-connected conditions.