Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the acquisition of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee strain with degenerative joint disease, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his in-service medical records and private treatment records. Additionally, VA examinations are required for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, bilateral shin disorders, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's initial rating for his right knee disability, which was granted in February 2006 and is rated at 30 percent, has been upheld. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as status post total knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new medical treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disorder and instability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss or a right knee disability attributable to service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered in light of his educational and occupational background, are of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their CUE motion regarding the June 8, 2011 decision denying increased disability ratings for various conditions. As a result, the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left hip disability that he contends is secondary to his service-connected right knee internal derangement status post anterior cruciate ligament repair. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to evaluate the relationship between these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, which is now considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability was initially rated at 10 percent from October 1, 2010. The rating has been increased to 20 percent effective October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees was not present in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to his military service or service-connected lumbosacral strain. As such, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) and arthritis of the knees. The preponderance of the evidence does not show a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and lumbar degenerative disk disease have been reopened, but denied on the merits.,A current right knee disability has not been established.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination and further development of his claims, including consideration of whether separate ratings are warranted for instability in the left knee.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to incomplete records and the need to determine the characterization of his second period of active duty service as dishonorable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the RO in San Antonio, Texas. The Veteran did not report for his scheduled August 2011 hearing due to incorrect address information.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.