Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right foot disability, including aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The Board has determined that further development is needed to adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, including as secondary to service-connected right knee and lumbosacral spine disabilities, was denied. The Board found that the preexisting condition of the left knee did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of medical nexus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination to assess his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery in October 1999 is denied as the claim was received more than one year after the need for convalescence began.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, finding that there is a showing of continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any chronic low back disorder.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and left foot plantar fasciitis with heel spur have been granted, but the PTSD issue remains unresolved.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability and the evidence does not support service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for knee disabilities was granted, with a separate 20 percent rating for each knee effective from March 17, 2009. The Veteran is also entitled to a separate 20 percent rating for instability of each knee since February 26, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left femur fracture are rated at 20 percent, effective June 27, 2001. A separate compensable evaluation for the scar is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability, a right leg disability, and a stomach condition. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions were related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.,There was no current diagnosis of a right leg disability as a result of an in-service injury. The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability was not caused by his service-connected low back strain and left shoulder dislocation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the right lower extremity or psychiatric disorder that is service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic symptoms related to service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against granting service connection for any of the conditions.

The Board found no current right knee disability and could not establish a nexus between the in-service injury and any post-service disability. Therefore, service connection for a right knee condition was denied.

The Board denied reopening the claims for left hip and left knee disabilities, finding no new and material evidence. The claim for left knee disability was reopened as there is new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's right knee strain, status-post ACL reconstruction/partial medial meniscectomy is rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with instability of the right knee.

The Veteran is entitled to a temporary total disability rating for convalescence due to service-connected left TKR from April 27, 2006 to December 11, 2006.