Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has granted petitions to reopen final disallowed claims for service connection for hiatal hernia, residuals of an eye injury, peptic ulcer disease, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, disabilities of the left leg and knee, and a psychiatric disorder. However, these claims remain denied as there is no evidence that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia first manifested after service and is not related to his time in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multi-joint arthritis involving multiple joints, including right knee, right ankle, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine is related to service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are related to his period of active service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective June 25, 2003. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is due to an injury sustained during his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for residuals of a right knee injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disorders are not related to his military service, while his back disorder is denied due to lack of evidence. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound scar of the left knee does not result in any functional limitation and is therefore not entitled to a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his in-service football injury, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his left knee disorders, standing alone, do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine if his left knee disorder is related to service. The Veteran also requested an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, which the RO/AMC will address in a statement of the case.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and occasional giving way but with no instability, has been rated at 20 percent since December 1986. The current evidence does not support a higher rating or separate ratings for limitation of motion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for a right knee disability and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease, left knee, status post left knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to ensure a complete record and proper consideration of his claims, including the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to address the status of his service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and other issues.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar DDD prior to March 6, 2009 was denied. The claim for a TDIU effective date prior to March 6, 2009, was remanded.