Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since July 1, 2006. The current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal on restoration of a separate rating for a shortened right lower extremity was withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right femur fracture is denied. The current 30 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lagophthalmos of the left eye is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for arthritis of the right knee is denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves disagreement with the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected knee and foot disabilities. The RO is instructed to arrange for a VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions, obtain all outstanding records from the Durham VAMC, and provide the Veteran another opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for arthritis of multiple joints. The Veteran's current arthritic conditions are considered as likely due to disease or injury incurred in active service.

The Board denied service connection for depression, left knee disorder (other than chondromalacia patella), and right knee disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary in this case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as a need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher 30 percent rating is warranted. The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, with a 60 percent evaluation effective from March 1, 2004. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of moderate instability and severe pain and weakness, which warranted a separate 20 percent rating for lateral instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Bollinger and arranging a VA joints examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee arthritis did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and granted service connection, finding that new evidence supports the claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations for the Veteran's knee disabilities, hearing loss, and right shoulder strain. The Veteran will be provided with another VA examination to address his claimed knee disabilities, as well as an audiological examination to determine if he has a current hearing loss disability. A supplemental opinion will also be obtained regarding any right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot Lisfranc injury is secondary to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis status post medial meniscectomy, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a pulmonary disability (including obstructive sleep apnea) and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have diabetes mellitus or hypertension attributable to military service.

The Board found no chronic right knee, right ankle, or left shoulder disorders in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied all of the Veteran's claims, including service connection for back, knee, and ankle disorders as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for his bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that none of these conditions were related to service or service-connected disabilities.