Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on September 16, 2002, before his discharge from service. Therefore, an effective date of October 1, 2002, is granted for the grant of service connection for multiple disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is found to be incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement is currently rated at 30 percent, and no higher rating is warranted as his range of motion remains within the limits for a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral knee disability as the result of disease or injury incurred in service and denied her claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the bilateral knees and ankles were not incurred or aggravated by service, either on a direct basis or due to any presumptive conditions. The VA examiner found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral elbow arthritis, a low back condition, and a left knee condition. However, these claims are being REMANDED to further develop the evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, including a recurrent meniscal tear and degenerative joint disease, warrants a staged rating of 20 percent from December 15, 2006 onwards.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the initial rating for degenerative joint disease of both knees with chondromalacia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for his service-connected left knee scar, finding that there was no evidence of pain or other disabling symptoms associated with the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders are being reviewed.

The Veteran's current left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis of the left knee may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for residual conditions from frostbite. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to new evidence provided by private medical records. The claim is granted as there is now a reasonable possibility that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in dismissal of the case.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and hypertension. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if any current knee or hypertension disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include arthritis, is being remanded due to the loss of his original claims file and need for additional development including medical examination.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease affecting the knees and hips, and denied service connection for all four claimed conditions as they are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected peroneal tendonitis of the right ankle with chronic instability and a chronic lateral complex tear.