Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his claims file. The RO will arrange for an examination by a VA physician to assess whether his service-connected disabilities, alone or in combination with any non-service connected conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, foot, and chest conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right hand disabilities. The decision is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied service connection for all three conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and providing a medical examination to determine if the appellant's current left knee disability is related to his active service.

The Board found that new evidence received since the August 1993 denial did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims and was cumulative. The claims for service connection for left knee disability and low back disability were therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracolumbar back strain, right varicose vein, right knee strain, and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity and manifestations of these disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but he contends for a higher rating. The claim is denied.,The Veteran also claims service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, which he asserts was caused by his service-connected left ankle disability. However, the evidence does not support this contention.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for his service-connected right knee injury with osteochondritis prior to April 21, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis since November 14, 2007. The Veteran's claims for service connection of COPD and asthma have been denied, as well as his claim for an increased initial evaluation for chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and consideration of new evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition was aggravated by his in-service injury, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right knee internal derangement, with degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 10 percent under the appropriate diagnostic codes. The current range of motion does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation of 20 percent is warranted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate.

The Board has found the evidence currently of record sufficient to establish the Veteran's entitlement to service connection for recurrent left ankle sprains. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision and is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was aggravated by active duty service. The claims are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his service-connected stress fracture and degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 20 percent since October 1996. The rating was increased to 30 percent for the period from May 1, 2006, forward.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee instability, varicose veins of the left leg, and degenerative disease of the right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 15, 2006.