Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment and is not service-connected, thus denying DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a herniated lumbar disc has been reopened and is now substantiated by new evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of cervical injury was withdrawn.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 19, 1995 and increased to 100 percent effective November 7, 2008. The current rating of 100 percent is maintained.

The Veteran is rated as 100 percent disabled from his service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board has granted entitlement to specially adapted housing or special home adaption, and adaptive equipment only.

The Board has requested additional evidence and is remanding the case for further review by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ). The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to her service-connected back disability or any other in-service event.

The Veteran seeks service connection for several disabilities, including a fracture of the right fifth finger, a disability of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral hearing loss. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability required a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence until April 10, 2007. He is now rated at 30% for limitation of left leg extension.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The underlying claims are supported by the evidence currently of record.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective July 9, 2007. The right lower leg skin rash is rated at 10 percent and lipomas are not compensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, hip disability, and back disability. The decision found that preexisting pes planus was not aggravated during active military service, there is no evidence of a current bilateral knee or hip disability related to active military service, and there is no evidence of spinal arthritis within one year following discharge from service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for shrapnel fragment wounds to the left knee and right thigh were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflected the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee instability of the right ACL was granted a rating of 10 percent prior to March 31, 2010 and 20 percent as of that date. The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee with limited flexion is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee bursitis had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip and ankle arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, status post TKR of the right ACL and TKR, is currently rated at 60 percent. The rating reflects severe painful motion and weakness with loss of endurance on walking and standing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed knee and shoulder disabilities are not related to her active service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability, left ankle instability, and benign prostatic hypertrophy as there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology after service. The claim for increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left foot, ankle and knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining treatment records and providing VA examinations.