Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a lumbar spine disability and a right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction is currently evaluated at 20 percent. The left ankle sprain with a history of gout warrants a 10 percent evaluation. Both right knee and left knee degenerative joint disease are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition and remanded it for further development, including obtaining STRs and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying his representation status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request to reschedule his videoconference hearing. The claims for service connection will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The conditions were found not to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee scar and joint disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to military service.,Service connection was also denied for cold injury residuals of the hands and feet due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that there was no new and material evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy. The effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for a painful right ankle scar is October 17, 1994.

The Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound due to his age over 65 and having a combined service-connected disability rating of 40 percent, which is more than the required 30 percent when considering non-service connected disabilities. His combined evaluation for pension is 70 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee postoperative medial meniscus residuals did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there was no evidence of moderate instability or limitation of motion. The Veteran is already rated for his degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal does not involve service connection for a right bicep disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of a current right bicep disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-prosthetic replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, psychiatric, right hip, and right knee disabilities are not service connected as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fractured left medial malleolus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic right leg disorder to include arthritis that was incurred or aggravated by her active duty service. The VA examination did not find any current right leg disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a temporary total rating for one month following percutaneous disc nucleoplasty. The Veteran also received an examination for his left knee condition and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee does not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The Board also found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of right knee pain during and after service, leading to a determination that his current osteoarthritis is related to his in-service chondromalacia.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability that he claims was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical opinions and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disabilities and lumbar strain do not warrant higher initial disability ratings as they do not meet the criteria for more severe disability evaluations based on range of motion or other relevant factors.