Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome was granted, effective July 24, 1980. The earlier date of receipt of the claim is considered as the effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for a left leg disorder, right knee disorder, benign osteoma of the left femur, and residuals of a tibial fracture of the right knee. The claim of service connection for a skin disorder is reopened based on new evidence indicating the Veteran does have a chronic skin disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and scars are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability in June 2006, and the Veteran did not appeal. New evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims due to incomplete evidence and deficiencies in the examination provided.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and left hip disorder are being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of pes cavus and service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's pes cavus did not meet criteria for a higher rating, but his symptoms more nearly approximated a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran does not have PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran did not manifest a current PTSD disability.,The Veteran has degenerative joint disease of both knees, which were incurred during his military service.,The Veteran also has rheumatoid arthritis, which was incurred during his military service.,The Veteran's sleep disorder is secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the knees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet, or in ankylosis of one or both knees, or of the left hip. As such, he is not eligible for a certificate of eligibility for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has determined that there is competent medical evidence of a causal link between an in-service right knee injury and the Veteran's current right knee disability. Therefore, service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right and left knee disabilities were aggravated by his period of active service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her right knee disability. Her TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, retropatellar pain syndrome of the right and left knees are being remanded for further evaluation as they continue to worsen.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all three issues at the June 2010 hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as he withdrew his claim for a higher rating for PTSD. The right knee disability claim has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence, but service connection cannot be established as there was no in-service injury or chronic condition that manifested within one year of separation from service. Service connection for left knee disability is also not established.