Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are related to his active duty service.,The Board also found no evidence of hypogonadism or melasma in the record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been rated as 10% since September 8, 2008. The evaluations for the left and right knee strains remain unknown due to lack of specific information in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current status of his service-connected PTSD and right knee, as well as an opinion on whether he has a right hip disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities. The RO will also obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing, and no final outcome is determined at this stage.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral feet metatarsalgia with drawer instability, chondromalacia patellae of the left knee, and chondromalacia patellae of the right knee are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's colonic polyps do not warrant a compensable evaluation. No new evidence has been presented to reopen service connection for a cervical spine disability or lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder or any other injury or illness incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities and Hepatitis C have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for internal derangement of the right knee or a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his military service, and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is found to have its origin during service.,Service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee with traumatic arthritis currently meets criteria for a 10 percent evaluation. However, there is no evidence of instability, subluxation, locking, incoordination, weakened movement, or excess fatigability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's right knee laxity and musculoligamentous strain with osteoarthritis have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively.,The Veteran's limited extension of the right knee has been granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent effective November 10, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD results in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for a claimed back disorder and bilateral hip disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation by service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability was initially rated as noncompensable prior to February 17, 2010. Effective from that date, a rating of 10 percent is granted for the disability.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to have been incurred during service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The initial increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities are also granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability was found to be rated at 10 percent from October 3, 2001 to January 29, 2010 and at 30 percent since January 30, 2010. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for amputations of his legs are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability is denied as the evidence does not show that any limitation of motion or instability warrants a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to new and material evidence submitted since the final denial in December 1985. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Indianapolis VAMC in 1986 and any other relevant medical records.