Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected right knee sprain with instability is manifested by pain, range of motion from 0 to no less than 130 degrees, and with recurrent subluxation. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including arthritis, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Sjogren's syndrome and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, bilateral hand disorder, sinus disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected knee disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of severe subluxation or instability, warranting a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evidentiary development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected partial posterior medial meniscectomy of the right knee is currently manifested by pain and minimal limitation of motion, warranting a 10 percent disability rating. The surgical scars associated with his right knee are rated as painful but not disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of bilateral ankle disorder is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to his military service or any service-connected disability.,Service connection was granted for a personality disorder, diagnosed in service. The effective date of this grant is November 15, 1991.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected residuals of total left knee replacement was granted, with the effective date being January 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disorders have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his knee conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The claim for a bilateral shin disability was denied as there was no diagnosed disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Veteran's combined rating of 60 percent due to service-connected disabilities meets the requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 1, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the right knee and left knee, instability of the right knee, a scar from his inguinal region, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right hip, do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's right knee disability, separate and distinct from his diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, is not found. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of a current right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and for consideration of any new evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from September 18, 1998. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, cervical spine disability, and Brown-Sequérd syndrome. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella was also denied.