Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral patellofemoral syndrome with right knee degenerative joint disease is service-connected, as it is likely post-traumatic and related to multiple parachute jumps during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left arm and shoulder, and right leg disabilities are not service connected as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left femur fracture.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a pulmonary disorder (other than asthma), arthritis of the left ankle, and hypopigmented macules. Service connection was denied for hemorrhoids, post-traumatic syndrome/headaches, and mechanical back syndrome.,Service connection was granted for a pulmonary disorder (other than asthma) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now rated at 10 percent for his right knee strain with arthritis. He also has separate rating for his arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with patellofemoral syndrome, left knee strain with patellofemoral syndrome, and low back strain with mild spondylosis. Service connection was denied for a left foot condition.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient notification regarding what evidence is needed to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability based on new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not proximately due to or the result of her service-connected right knee disability and denied her claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2005. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disorder, an upper left leg disorder, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), and a sleep disorder. The claim for a right femur fracture with post-traumatic arthritis claimed as hip bursitis was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and bilateral arm tingling. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of increased ratings for hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are not more than slightly disabling prior to February 2008 and do not warrant a rating in excess of 10% since February 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development, including verification of his periods of active duty and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities, including his mental health issues and knee conditions, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating necessary to qualify for nonservice-connected pension.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these disorders were incurred or aggravated by active duty or active duty for training.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee as secondary to a service-connected bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the left and right knees have been rated at 10% each, but his complaints indicate that he experiences significant functional impairment due to pain, weakness, instability, and limited range of motion. The Board found no evidence warranting a higher rating based on current medical findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing sedentary occupations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for GERD, DJD of the left knee, and RPPS of the right knee were denied by the Board.