Knee decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The Board also determined that there was no relationship between the service-connected right knee disability and the claimed left knee disability, based on either causation or aggravation.

The case is being remanded for further development due to inadequacies in the record and noncompliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance in purchasing specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lack of anatomical loss or use of either lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right knee disability (status post right arthroplasty), and left knee disability are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected right patella injury with traumatic arthritis. His post operative residuals, injury of the right patella with traumatic arthritis, are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further action consistent with a joint motion to vacate and remand the decision due to an inconsistency in the VA examiner's opinions regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition during service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected as it did not arise during active duty and is not linked to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The right knee osteoarthritis is considered secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran is also granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right and left knee chondromalacia.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and found that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his in-service injury. The claim of service connection for bilateral knee disorders was not addressed on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination for his left knee disorder, deviated septum, and allergic rhinitis.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and adjudicating his claim of service connection for a heart disorder.

The Veteran's left leg and knee disabilities, including post traumatic arthrosis of the left knee and residuals of tibia fracture, are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service, nor are such disabilities shown by the evidence to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including a neck disability and related symptoms, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his in-patient records from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back, right knee, and digestive system disabilities. The case will be reviewed again after these examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and degenerative joint disease, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability. The Board has ordered another VA examination to determine if the current right knee disability is related to his military service, including any in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his lumbar spine or left knee disorders, nor did it establish service connection for any of the other claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition present during service and current tinnitus is unrelated to any injury or disease in service.