Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to his National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right knee injury and chronic lumbar pain and compression fracture L1 do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's appeal is currently pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and bilateral knee disorder are denied as there is no credible evidence supporting his assertions.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and no causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for migraine headaches, were granted. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for left knee arthritis has been granted.

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

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for reopening a right knee disability was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee strain, sciatica, eye disorder (presumed), and allergies are currently pending. The case is being remanded to provide further development.

The Veteran's right ankle and left ankle disabilities are not found to be related to his military service or service-connected bilateral pes planus. The right knee disability is associated with X-ray findings of a patellar spur, but the examiner did not provide an opinion on whether it is related to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, disc herniation at L5-S1, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,There is no credible evidence of a current left knee or leg disability since service or other possible association with any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on the basis of aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations and the criteria for each condition. The initial ratings assigned are generally in line with the severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, schizophrenia (claimed as chronic acquired psychiatric disorder), and a left knee disorder due to the preponderance of evidence not showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his postoperative torn medial meniscus and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for the service-connected postoperative torn medial meniscus from June 11, 2003 to September 28, 2006. The claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of total right knee arthroplasty is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice provided to the appellant regarding service connection for a left knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered and appropriate notice must be given.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination of the left knee. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically his left knee chondromalacia with medial collateral ligament instability and right knee chondromalacia, are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.