Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination to assess the current severity and instability of his knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's headaches, bilateral knee disability, and residuals of ankle sprains are all found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability are not related to his active service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease of these conditions, nor is there sufficient credible medical opinion linking them to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with adequate notice and to schedule him for another VA examination. The case will be returned to the AMC/RO for further adjudication.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum and left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's accounts of in-service injuries are credible. The nose disorder is presumed incurred during active military service, while the left knee disorder is found to be related to an injury sustained during service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right ankle sprain was granted, but the claims for service connection for back and knee disabilities were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding no evidence of a current disability related to 'heat stroke' residuals or onychomycosis. The lumbar spine condition was not found to warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of secondary service connection theories. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, singly or in combination, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and hip disabilities were denied. The RO increased the disability rating for the lumbar spine to 40 percent effective December 7, 2009.

The VA determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to her active duty service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, left elbow, and left shoulder disabilities (arthritis) are not related to service. The evidence does not show a chronic disease in service or continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's post-operative arthrotomy of the left knee with degenerative joint disease prior to June 23, 2008.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right knee, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The other issues related to scars have not met this standard.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since July 1, 2009. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has ordered the VA to attempt to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Keith Roland (or Rowland) for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and skin rash. The appeal is now remanded for further development.