Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for his right knee disability under DC 5003 for degenerative arthritis, in addition to the previously assigned 20 percent rating for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including any additional range-of-motion loss due to pain and other factors. The case will be returned to the Board after the examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and eczema on the right hand are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The January 2004 rating decision denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied service connection claim for left knee degenerative joint disease, including as secondary to service-connected right knee status-post total knee arthoplasty with degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that there is a need to obtain additional evidence from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and will remand the case for this purpose. The Veteran's claims for whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee condition, to include as secondary to the service-connected disabilities of right knee chondromalacia and chronic lumbosacral strain, and service connection for tinnitus will be further reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his right knee disability and a need for additional examination. The issue includes whether the reduction in rating from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, as well as entitlement to a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of bilateral knees has been granted a 10 percent disability evaluation since February 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee or right shoulder disability that is related to his active service. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be due to natural progression and do not appear to be directly linked to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned to the Board after further review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's left foot disability is related to his service-connected right ankle disability and addressing the use of adaptive equipment. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation for right knee arthritis and found that the available schedular evaluations adequately described his disability level. The issue of service connection for a right ankle disorder is pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and other procedural issues.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellar tendonitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for a back disorder and concluding that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current right knee disorder to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to her service-connected right ankle disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by post-operative residuals of a right lateral meniscectomy with retained foreign body, did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from August 6, 2004 to September 1, 2009.

The Board found that chronic knee disability, including arthritis, was not present during service and current bilateral knee disability is first shown years after service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, as no evidence was provided that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his right wrist and left knee disabilities. The rating decision will be reconsidered after this additional development.