Knee decisions — 2011

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, but reopened the claim for a left ankle disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and updating his claims file with any relevant post-service treatment records.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's right knee condition is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and the case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and residuals of septoplasty. The Veteran did not present a current diagnosis for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his SFW residuals of the right calf and bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating, and he failed to establish service connection for hypertension or erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for liver disease, left eye blindness, left ankle injury, PTSD, left leg and knee injury, right ankle injury, colon cancer, tinnitus, and prostate problems.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and leg scars with numbness in the distribution of the peroneal nerve have been rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's posttraumatic deformation of the left patella has also been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial disability ratings for right knee degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and a scar on the abdomen was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting right knee arthritis did not permanently increase in severity during service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, and low back disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are related to a car accident during military service.,The Board has not reopened the claims of service connection for left knee disability and Crohn's disease. The evidence submitted does not relate these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right knee replacement results in chronic residuals including severe weakness, warranting a 60% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bursitis of the right knee and found that he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7120. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent disability rating for varicose veins of the right thigh and knee, effective March 21, 2008.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis were denied, while the claim for service connection for basal cell skin cancer was not addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if he has PTSD due to in-service stressors and additional examinations of his knees and spine. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also raised but not addressed.

The Board finds that the appellant's left knee disorder is causally related to his ACDUTRA service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected left foot disability is denied as the medical evidence does not show loss of use of the left foot.

The Veteran is not eligible for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as his service was in the Regular Army of the United States, and he already receives VA disability compensation.

The Veteran's knee conditions were found to not warrant a higher rating prior to October 9, 2008, and the current effective date for any increased rating is October 9, 2008.

The Board found no evidence of additional disability resulting from VA care, and thus denied the claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.