Knee decisions — 2011

VA determined that the Veteran's scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation, as they are not tender or painful and do not cause limitation of function.,VA also found that the Veteran's traumatic arthritic residuals of a fractured left hip do not warrant an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The Veteran's left hip and/or left knee disabilities are to be evaluated by a VA examiner.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, but denied reopening of his claim for a low back disability. The Veteran was assigned 20 percent ratings for each knee from October 5, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the right and left knees, as well as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, were denied by the RO. The Board is remanding this case to further develop the claim regarding her low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an expert opinion regarding his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA outpatient treatment records, schedule a right knee examination, and review the evidence in light of the new information.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability (claimed as secondary to left knee disability) due to lack of evidence showing a link between these disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an initial rating for PTSD, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service. The pre-existing Osgood-Schlatter disease did not aggravate beyond its natural progression during active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of CUE in two rating decisions and also denied his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal on any of these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed skin disorders, musculoskeletal strain, numbness of the hands, facial congestion and breathing difficulties, sperm or semen abnormalities, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder are not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability is granted as the evidence shows that he had arthritis of his left knee during service and continues to have it now.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal involves a claim for an increased rating for his right knee condition and service connection for sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his knee disability and whether his sleep apnea is related to his asthma.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the left knee has been withdrawn. The only remaining issue is whether there was clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions regarding service connection, which will be considered along with the effective date claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The claim will now be reviewed on its merits.