Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if he has any additional left knee disability as a result of the July 9, 2007 surgery and post-operative care. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and a medical opinion regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for specially adapted housing, a special home adaptation grant, service connection for osteoporosis of the right knee and lumbar spine, and an increased rating for generalized osteoporosis with compression fracture of the T-11 spine. These issues are currently pending before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed low back, right knee, and sciatica disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability, to include arthritis, that is related to his service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, was incurred in service and is related to his military activities, including multiple parachute jumps. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not incurred or aggravated by service. The current conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to certain environments.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding no more than 'slight' knee impairment and considering Diagnostic Codes 5003, 5010, and 5257.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and other joint disorders, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and low back disability. This includes obtaining medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and determining whether any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's headaches have not resulted in severe economic inadaptability, and thus an increased evaluation beyond the current 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder and hiatal hernia did not cause his death. His underlying cardiovascular condition was not related to service.

The Board has determined that additional notice and development are needed before the claims can be decided.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension and a separate 20 percent rating for lateral instability/subluxation. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for severe instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right leg and/or knee disability, resulting in a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities are service-connected. The PTSD claim is also granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a chronic right knee disorder, including gout, degenerative joint disease, and osteoarthritis. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA joints examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.