Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee and right ankle, migraine headaches, and nerve damage to the left eye. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability or any other etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, resulting from a total knee replacement, is productive of chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion and weakness following implantation of the prosthesis. The Board finds that a 60 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, right knee arthritis and medial meniscus tear, left knee arthritis and lytic lesion, and low back degenerative joint disease.,Service connection has been established for all issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly dependency and indemnity compensation (SMC or increased DIC) based on need for aid and attendance of another person, or being housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, as it was incurred during his period of active duty for training in April 2000.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his low back, left knee, right knee, and irritable bowel syndrome disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and sciatic nerve disorders are not related to her active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and arthritis of the lower extremities. The evidence includes VA medical records showing current diagnoses, as well as lay statements attesting to continuity of symptoms since military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, tinnitus, right and left leg numbness, ear pain, and dry eyes are presumed to have been incurred as a result of active duty service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as pain only, was not incurred or aggravated by his active service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to arthritis developing within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and seeking private medical records. The Veteran's left knee disability is being evaluated to determine if it began during active service or is related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for a right leg disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities began during active service or are related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, as the current evidence may indicate an increase in severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disabilities prevent him from protecting himself from the hazards of his environment, meeting the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right knee arthritis due to new and material evidence. However, the claims for both right knee arthritis and left foot disorder are being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis with limitation of extension and flexion has been rated at 20 percent, and the scars have been rated as non-compensable. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the medical evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent from June 1, 2010. The issue of entitlement to a separate evaluation for left knee numbness has been added.