Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The claim will be reviewed again after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain with mild degeneration of the left patella is aggravated by his service-connected right Achilles tendonitis and post tibial tendonitis, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and instability, was rated at 30 percent prior to February 18, 2005. From that date onwards, separate ratings of 20 percent for instability and 10 percent for arthritis were assigned.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the bilateral hands and fingers, as well as the bilateral feet and knees, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, status post bilateral hip replacement, hypertension, and arthritis of the ankles, shoulders, and cervical spine with radiculopathy were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a direct relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as bilateral patellar chondromalacia, was not incurred in or otherwise the result of her active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete examination and need for further development of his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder are denied as there is no competent evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Videoconference Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity. The case will be returned to the AMC in Washington, DC after the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, but denied service connection for right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted without a waiver of RO consideration, and the Veteran requested that his appeal be remanded for RO consideration in the first instance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's right knee sprain has been manifested by full extension and limited flexion to 130 degrees, with no objective findings of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not meet the threshold rating requirements for an award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for residuals of removal of foreign bodies from the left foot was granted. The Board found new and material evidence in the form of statements and testimony indicating a persistent left foot disorder or its residuals, which raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee, ankle, low back, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have left or right knee lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, and thus reduced the ratings for laxity of each knee from 10% to noncompensable.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for arthritis with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency of the right knee, finding that new evidence supports a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine their etiology.