Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psoriatic arthritis did not worsen during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, post-uni-compartmental knee arthroplasty, is rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran claims service connection for DJD of the right knee with a total arthroplasty, which he asserts was caused by an in-service falling accident. The Board finds that additional development is necessary to obtain VA treatment records from 10 years after his reported injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hip and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability has been denied as the evidence does not show that his flexion or extension is limited to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260 or 5261. The Board also found no subluxation or moderate lateral instability of the left knee, precluding a separate compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected, with no current evidence of chronic left knee disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, or bilateral hearing loss. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical examination and development of her claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by pain, tenderness, crepitus, and limited motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation for left knee disability, service connection for right knee disability, bacterial vaginosis, and uterine fibroids. The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury or chronic condition in service, and concluded that any current right knee disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities and off-site searches at Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, joint pain, chronic diarrhea, headaches, pseudotumor cerebri, and low back disorder, all of which are found to be related to the Veteran's active duty in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right and left knees has been evaluated at 10 percent each, effective January 16, 1998. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's chondromalacia of the right knee warranted a 10 percent rating, and his medial meniscal tear did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board found no underlying chronic pathology associated with the Veteran's bilateral knee pain and there is no credible evidence of a currently diagnosed bilateral knee disorder manifested by underlying chronic pathology etiologically related to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a headache disability and hiccups and muscular twitching of the eyes, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The claim for diabetes mellitus remains denied as there is no objective medical evidence showing it was caused by hypertension.

The Board found no additional disability due to the left total knee arthroplasty and concluded that the Veteran's complaints of pain and numbness were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for left elbow disorder, right knee disorder, and tinea cruris.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and a bilateral knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.