Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability. However, after reviewing the reopened claim on the merits, the competent and probative evidence did not support the presence of a current left knee disability related to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury and left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The other claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a right knee disorder were denied. The right knee disorder was granted as it is presumed to have existed prior to service. Service connection for the psychiatric disorders could not be established due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected frostbite of both feet and left below knee amputation did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from coronary artery disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service and denied his claim.

The VA has determined that the appellant's right knee DJD does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for more severe disability ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder does not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the appellant's left knee laxity, effective from March 17, 2004. The claim for increased evaluations for degenerative osteoarthritis and TDIU remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals of a left knee injury and his left knee arthritis do not meet or approximate the criteria for ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right tympanic membrane perforation with hearing loss and denied service connection for arthritis of the fingers, neck, ankles, and knees. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, ankle, foot, lumbar spine, and bilateral toes disorders are pending. The Veteran has been granted service connection for a scar of the right leg. His claims for service connection for tendinitis and/or gout of the left wrist and right wrist have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The Board grants service connection for migraine headaches.,The Veteran reported experiencing headaches since childhood, but her current diagnosis is of a chronic condition that began in service and resolved with pregnancy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, knee, and ankle disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examination and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee strain. Additionally, he will be scheduled for another VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or maintaining gainful employment.