Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and a rotator cuff tear, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, residuals of an avulsion fracture of the left foot (claimed as gout), and kidney stones. The appeal regarding service connection for Right Shoulder Disorder, Right Foot Disorder, and Left Knee Disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings and TDIU based on his service-connected left shoulder injury, axillary nerve damage, and right knee DJD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the severity of these conditions and determine if they preclude employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disorder or low back disorder, and finds that these conditions are not related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and asking the Veteran to provide authorization for release of private treatment records. A VA examination will also be scheduled to assess the existence and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's knee replacements are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are related to his service-connected low back disability and associated radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, and for referral of the TDIU claim to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The Board finds that the current disability is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder due to lack of evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including those related to bilateral foot disorder, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claim of service connection for degenerative changes of the right knee, as well as denial of service connection for psychiatric disorder (anxiety), cervical spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and found that the Veteran's right knee disability warrants an initial noncompensable rating. The decision is based on the evidence showing no painful or limited motion in the right knee, with transient pain occurring several times a week.

The Veteran's DJD of the right knee does not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent, as his range of motion is within normal limits and there is no evidence of limitation of extension or flexion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right leg/knee disorder. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on direct and secondary service connection.

The Board found no current diagnoses of any disorders of the left leg, knee, ankle or foot in the claims folder and thus denied service connection for all four issues.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to new evidence submitted after the last decision. The RO is instructed to consider this additional evidence and provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 27, 2009 for the grant of service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.