Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran is seeking service connection for arthritis of the neck, back, hands, and knees. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for DDD of the lumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis, and mood disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are being reviewed de novo.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, and are not proximately due to a service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for intermittent right knee strain has been granted, effective from the date of his initial claim in 1993. As this resolves all issues on appeal, the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from OPM and USPS, scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of hypertension, and considering all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, which he contends is related to his service-connected plantar fasciitis of the left foot, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a chronic bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability, left knee disorder, or low back disorder that is etiologically related to service. The evidence shows no in-service hearing loss and only mild sensorineural hearing loss at 4000 Hz in the right ear post-service. The left knee disorder was noted pre-service but did not result from service. The low back disorder does not appear to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and arthritis, is related to his documented in-service injuries. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was characterized by certain limitations but no new evaluation was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bicuspid aortic valve disorder, tinnitus, and right knee disability. Bilateral hearing loss was not found to meet VA criteria for a disability rating.

The Board found no evidence that any current cervical, low back, or left knee disability is related to service. The Veteran's complaints and diagnoses are not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for right knee laxity was granted, with the effective date set at March 12, 2007. The case also addressed whether a timely Notice of Disagreement had been filed regarding the September 2001 RO decision denying service connection for left knee arthritis. Service connection for right knee arthritis and TDIU were not decided in this decision.

The Board found no evidence of varicose veins in service and denied the claim for service connection. For the knee disabilities, the Board concluded that there was no showing of an event or disease occurring in service resulting in current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his claims for service connection for bilateral knee injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disorder, clavicle fracture, left buttock muscle injury, fractured pelvis and bilateral knee disorders have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disability did not increase in severity during his ADSW service, and therefore could not be considered aggravated by service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee condition was not found to warrant a higher rating, and the muscle pain in legs and chronic fatigue/sleep disturbance were determined to be secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, low back strain, diabetes mellitus, cervical strain, and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that a TDIU rating is warranted based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation due to need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded for additional examinations and development of medical records.