Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims for hiatal hernia, allergies, headaches, right knee disability, left knee disability, facial pain of the right cheek and teeth, and gastrointestinal disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his left foot disability, including pes planus, valgus deformity, and plantar fasciitis, which he claims is related to his service-connected right knee disability. The case is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA opinion regarding causation or aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment prior to June 29, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed knee and foot disorders, as the recent medical opinions do not adequately address their onset during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and left shoulder disorders were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service, as they pre-existed service and were not worsened by military activities.

The Veteran's temporary total rating following left knee revision surgery is granted from October 25, 1999 to November 30, 2000.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities following total knee replacements, finding no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness in the knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee injury and left knee degenerative joint disease were not incurred or aggravated by military service, nor are they secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee instability warrants a rating of 30 percent effective from March 30, 2009. The limitation of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, bilateral hip, neck and low back disorders were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability was denied as the current 20% rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee condition and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right knee is rated at 10 percent, and his scars are rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a separate rating for instability warrants a 10 percent evaluation from February 2010.

The Board found no evidence of chronic hepatitis C symptoms during service or continuous symptoms since separation, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, and eye disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic and degenerative changes of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice, need for additional medical records, and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be caused by a service-connected left knee disability. The reduction from 40 percent to 30 percent for the right ankle disability as of September 1, 2010 is granted.,Prior to September 1, 2010, the Veteran was service-connected for multiple disabilities including his right ankle and left knee disabilities, which rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee strain did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation between May 23, 2000 and January 29, 2006.