Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of sufficient rationale in the previous VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for left knee internal derangement is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records from USPS and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to a stressor during his active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The memory loss and insomnia are also considered as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or chronic disability related to service. However, there is no evidence supporting a separate diagnosis for degenerative joint disease that can be attributed to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a sleep disorder, joint pain involving the knees and wrists, fatigue, headaches, neuropsychological symptoms, and PTSD. The evidence received since September 2002 does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right knee, and skin disorder of the face disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension reduction from 20% to 10% was found proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and PTSD, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation due to significant effects on the Veteran's occupational and daily activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is requesting entitlement to TDIU. The case has been remanded for further development including obtaining vocational rehabilitation records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tongue cancer, right knee disability, and low back disability did not have onset during his active service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment of a sedentary nature.

The Veteran's right knee and left hip disabilities have been granted service connection, but the RO is directed to remand for further development of his left hip disability and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran is seeking service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as reopening a claim for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear, but denied service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence linking the right knee disorder to service or to left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection for shoulder disorders is pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding the initial ratings for PTSD, migraine and tension headaches, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including securing VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits information.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability was granted, with a combined rating of 20 percent effective from November 20, 1989.