Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee is found to be service-connected due to a shrapnel wound. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression) has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including heart disease and arthritis in multiple joints. The appeal will be remanded to allow for additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the left knee is at least as likely as not related to his in-service parachute jump injury, and thus service connection for this disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's left knee disability and determine if it was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and a meniscus tear, has been rated at 10 percent since October 2006. The Board finds that the current rating is appropriate as there are no findings of subluxation or lateral instability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as DJD, is currently rated at 10 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder did not meet the criteria for service connection as a presumptive undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and thus denied service connection. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of an in-service injury to the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records from 1995-2002 and Social Security Administration records. The case will be reviewed again after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, specifically left knee pain and low back pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and arthritis in the knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, with no higher ratings due to limitations in range of motion. The Veteran is granted a separate 10% rating for slight instability of the right knee.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains rated at 10%, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or dislocation of semilunar cartilage, and limitation of motion does not meet criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for further development of the record, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder and circulatory disorder associated with his bilateral lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence received after an SSOC was issued.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran was already receiving the highest schedular rating available for fibromyalgia and did not have a compensable rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist prior to August 7, 2008. For the period after August 7, 2008, she had a noncompensable rating for that condition. The Veteran's patella compression syndrome of both knees was also found not to warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied in March 2000 and July 2002, but the RO granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of his knees with separate evaluations effective April 26, 2002. The Board found that there was CUE in the September 1980 rating decision.