Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence received since the May 2010 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current manifestations of his cervical spine disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, while those of his left knee disability did not meet criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his service, including his service-connected left foot disorder. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to a service-connected left foot disorder is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the left knee arthroscopic and partial medial meniscectomy residuals, effective from May 2006 until February 2011.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The Veteran's upper back disability is being considered based on direct service connection, while his right foot strain and knee disabilities are still under review.

The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple disorders, including right knee, right leg, back, and left foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain missing service treatment records and additional medical evidence.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome does not warrant a higher disability rating, as it did not demonstrate instability or other symptoms that would justify a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5257 and 5260. The current 10% rating is based on reported pain and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for right and left knee conditions remain on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia status post arthroplasty prior to July 29, 2008 was manifested by full flexion and limited extension with pain. The current range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims for increased ratings for left hip and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and verifying periods of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his claims, including TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records from a period of active duty in 2009 and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the current manifestations of his left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection and increased rating remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records from her period of active service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the knees was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip and bilateral knee disorders were denied. The evidence did not show any ankylosis or significant impairment of the femur with moderate disability in her left hip, nor did it show limitation of motion on extension to -10 degrees or more, or limited on flexion to 30 degrees or less in either knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination of her right knee.