Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current right knee disability and an adjudication of his claim for increased evaluation for bipolar disorder with associated anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot and knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran is granted a separate rating for lateral instability of his right knee, but denied higher ratings for his right foot arthritis and patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative disease. His traumatic shoulder condition does not warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is rated at the minimum allowed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during his military service. The VA examinations and medical records did not support a link between the current knee disabilities and any incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a chronic disability or objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's right knee disability and scar were evaluated, with the right knee disability receiving a 20% evaluation. The arthritis of the right knee was separately rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, left knee condition, back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were all incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, asthma, right and left wrist disabilities, migraine headaches, allergic rhinitis, and erectile dysfunction, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder are pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left hip, lumbar spine, and left knee disorders secondary to his service-connected torn right meniscus with degenerative changes. The Board finds that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disorders and psychiatric disability were denied. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, but did not decide whether it was secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability, rated as traumatic arthritis with edema and status post patellectomy, is currently rated at 20 percent. The VA examiner found that the range of motion was from 0 to 110 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The RO denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disorder, as well as thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and instructed the AMC to obtain all pertinent records, including those from November 10, 2008. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate examination report, and the Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current bilateral knee disability had its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability was denied, and he is not entitled to service connection for right knee, low back, or bilateral hip disabilities secondary to the left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as left knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also determined that it could not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to any specific hazard of service. As such, the claim for secondary service connection based on his right knee disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and posttraumatic arthritis of the left knee were denied. The RO found that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for a right leg disability other than scars and a right knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.