Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's left knee disability was initially rated as 10 percent disabling prior to March 16, 2009. From that date, the disability is rated at 10 percent for instability and 20 percent for a separate rating for instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations and incomplete service treatment records. Further examination is needed, and the RO must obtain his ACDUTRA service records.

The Veteran's knee, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic cough, and headaches are being remanded for further development to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of flexion and a scar, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's instability and recurrent subluxation are not service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verifying service dates and obtaining clinical treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen her service connection for generalized arthritis, involving the knees and shoulders, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, has been granted a 20% rating since May 22, 1998. A separate 20% rating for instability is effective from November 2, 2009.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, right shin splints, left shin splints, and a right femoral condyle disability. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability, service connection for a left knee disability secondary to his right knee disability, and service connection for a low back disability secondary to his right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has determined that an additional examination is necessary to adjudicate the claim for service connection of residuals from a left knee injury. The Veteran's current symptoms may be related to his in-service injury, but this needs further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as a VA examination found that his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus would not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headaches, and right knee disorder have been denied. The claim for headaches has been granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, shoulder, and knee disorders are not related to service. The evidence does not show a chronic disability of these conditions during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees and feet is related to his active service, specifically exposure to cold injuries during his time at Fort Leonard Wood in 1951.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development, including obtaining VCAA compliant notice and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his left knee disabilities and neurological condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental statement from Dr. Webb regarding whether the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus caused or aggravated his non-service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, as well as his claim for service connection for a left knee sprain secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability were denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a bilateral foot disability, a left knee disability, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and acute myocardial ischemia. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.