Knee decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's current right patellofemoral syndrome is not related to his service, including a documented November 2003 incident involving an assault. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic right knee symptoms during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in the permanent loss or use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis of knees or hips. Therefore, he is not entitled to financial assistance for automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and leg disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active military service and has been granted. The left knee, cervical spine injury, and headache claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has received notification from the Appellant that he wishes to withdraw his claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow, a right forearm injury, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his knee, elbow, wrist, and forearm disabilities as well as malaria was denied because he did not have active military service during a period of war.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities have been denied. The VA determined that the current disability levels do not warrant a higher rating based on the symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability, and for additional development as requested.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for 2008 related to his service-connected disabilities (degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees) requiring metal braces that cause damage to his clothing was denied because the knee braces were procured in May 2008, which did not meet the eligibility criteria as they had to be purchased by August 1, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and left shoulder conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint disability, depression, back pain, and chest pain as there is no competent evidence of a chronic disability in service or related to service. The fibro-osseous lesions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee sprain, and bilateral shoulder sprain are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for right foot, left foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a direct causal relationship between the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities and his military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including a VA examination during a flare-up of knee pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee disability, both secondary to a left ankle sprain, are being remanded due to additional evidence submitted since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of increased evaluations for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and hemorrhoids with an anal fissure. The reduction in evaluation for cervical spine disability was found to be improper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle arthritis is service-connected, as there is a continuity of symptoms since his last period of active duty.