Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, finding that it had its onset in service. The issue of whether his left knee disorder is secondary to his right knee degenerative arthritis remains pending and will be addressed at a future date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol was denied as the condition is not a disability for VA purposes. The claims for bilateral wrist and knee disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sinusitis due to new and material evidence submitted. However, it found that there is not enough evidence to grant service connection for bipolar disorder, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, gynecological disabilities, or migraine headaches prior to November 29, 2005. The claim for special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of a creative organ was granted effective from November 29, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, effective May 23, 2007. The right knee and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell anemia due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a skin disorder, right knee condition, numbness of the bilateral lower extremities, and a lower back condition are denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 1151 for aggravation of a right shoulder condition is dismissed.

The VA has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is presumed to have been incurred during active military service as a result of exposure to herbicides. The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including peripheral vascular disease and right leg amputation, on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's left knee disability and bilateral leg pain are not service-connected, but his lumbar strain is now rated at 20% effective March 1, 2010. His bilateral foot condition remains at a 10% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining records and conducting examinations. The issues of service connection for various disorders are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues include increased evaluations and reopening of service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 70 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee, right knee, and left hip disorders are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination findings. Additionally, the claim for service connection for a right hip disorder is also being remanded as there was no adequate examination or opinion regarding this issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his period of service, and denied his claim for service connection.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's dental trauma did not result from an injury during his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip dysplasia, removal of the uterus, chronic tendonitis of the left shoulder, spondylolysis of the lumbar spine, cervical strain with trace bulging at the C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7 levels, chronic tendonitis left knee, uterine fibroids, and removal of the right ovary, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or any other applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left and right knee osteoarthropathy and patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the right knee injury is not related to service, bursitis of the right shoulder does not warrant a higher rating, and the flexion deformity of the right index finger does not meet criteria for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.