Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative right knee arthritis and a right knee medial meniscus tear, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma. The right knee disorder claim is remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no medical evidence of a nexus between the in-service injury and the current conditions.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee scar and remand the case for further development.

Service connection for low back strain and right knee strain has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability may be aggravating his low back and right knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims to reopen for multiple myeloma, residuals of a left heel fracture, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her left knee medial meniscus tear, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increase in the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at his correct address of record. The issues are whether he should receive increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's post-TKR left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, warranting a higher rating. The claim for monetary assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only was denied as his service-connected disability does not meet the specified criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran did not experience an in-service right knee injury or disease, and there is no evidence of chronic right knee disorder symptomatology since service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen certain claims. The right knee condition claim is reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to be presumptively incurred during active military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip condition on a secondary basis to his service-connected knee disability. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, cervical spine, and right arm numbness and weakness are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that further examination and medical opinions are needed to determine the current existence of left knee, ankle, and foot disabilities and their relationship to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded to the RO.

The Veteran had service-connected disabilities, but did not meet the criteria for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) as he was not in receipt of a total disability rating for eight years prior to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have not been found to warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of increased rating for sleep apnea and service connection for sinusitis. The right knee disability, GERD, PTSD, left hip disability, fatigue, and orthopedic foot disorder claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional development.

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