Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and low back disabilities, granting him service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current left knee disorders to his service, and denied both primary and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for completion of several directives, including determining the Veteran's current address and clarifying his representation preferences. The case is now pending further action.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to flexion limited to 100 degrees. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. Both conditions are not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, residuals of a back injury, right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip traumatic arthritis, left hip traumatic arthritis, right leg nerve damage, left leg nerve damage, right hallux malleus (hammertoes), and left hallux malleus. However, the claims are denied as service connection is not established for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis and patellofemoral syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension, with separate ratings for limited flexion and instability. The current evaluations are consistent with the functional impairment described.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disability and a lumbar spine disability, to include ankylosing spondylitis. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's deployment during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

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

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as the evidence does not show loss of use of one or both feet due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right leg injuries, including knee and ankle disabilities, is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for back and left knee disorders due to incomplete records, including ONG records and private treatment records from Dr. B.E.

The Veteran's skin disease, including psoriasis and a benign tumor or tumors, was not found to be related to service-connected right below-the-knee amputation. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vascular disease (exclusive of peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity), arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and kidney failure were all determined to be unrelated to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran sustained a left thumb fracture in service and has residuals of this injury. The right knee and left knee disabilities are not shown to be related to service.,There is no current evidence of a right or left knee disability, and the Veteran's statements regarding pain alone do not constitute a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to establish a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, arthritis of the right knee, or arthritis of the left knee that is related to service. The evidence does not show that these conditions had their onset in active military service, manifested within one year of service separation, or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The case will be remanded to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from 1973 to 1989. The VA examiner will provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities.