Knee decisions — 2011

The Board is remanding this claim, including the others, for further development and consideration due to new and material evidence having been submitted since a previous denial of service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee disorder during service or within one year post-service, and the most competent medical evidence does not support a connection between current bilateral knee disorders and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left knee disability, as the previous one was too old and did not address the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as her range of motion is within acceptable limits and there are no indications of ankylosis or severe painful motion.

The Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities have been granted service connection, but the initial ratings assigned are 10 percent for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran is advised to provide information about any relevant medical providers or witnesses.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the presence of current disabilities and the need for medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's facial scars, left wrist muscle injury, right shoulder and neck muscle injury, left foot scar, left wrist scar, right knee scar, right lower extremity scar, and right ankle scar are all rated at 30 percent each.,Service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 22, 2009. Service connection for neuralgia of the left foot was also granted but without a specific effective date.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence indicated that his current disability was less likely than not related to his 1980 injury. The Court has now remanded the case for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to failure to respond to requests for necessary evidence.

The Board found that the service-connected left knee disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as there was no actual limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain or during flare-ups. The Veteran's symptoms were noted but did not result in a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, left knee, and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have not been productive of limitation of motion to a degree that warrants an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left knee, right knee, or right foot disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is unable to determine if his stomach condition and hiatal hernia are related to military service due to lack of medical evidence. The right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and right knee strain claims have also been reopened, but the VA examination reports do not provide sufficient information on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability (Degenerative Joint Disease) and finds that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his military service. The claims of service connection for bilateral hip, ankle, and low back disabilities are also granted as direct service connection was established.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left ankle degenerative joint disease and service connection for left knee and hip disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.