Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral knee condition. The coccygeal pilonidal cyst claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a disability of the right lower extremity. However, no new or material evidence was found to support reopening the claim for a skin disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain are aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture. As such, these conditions are considered secondary to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his knee disorders and an audiological evaluation.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for shrapnel wounds of the right knee and granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been received to support the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for establishing service connection in any of the conditions listed.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining service treatment records related to a right knee injury in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his coronary artery disease, bilateral knee sprain, lumbosacral strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran withdrew from her appeal all claims except for the claim of increase for panic disorder. The Board dismissed these claims as withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, claimed as a right shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for left ankle, left hip, left knee and low back disabilities to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The AMC will arrange for a VA compensation examination to reassess the severity of these orthopedic disabilities.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of each knee, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen either claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by symptomatic cartilage injury or loss with dislocation and related osteochondral defect of the medial femoral condyle, minimal effusion, pain, and locking, more nearly approximates a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but further development is needed before these claims can be adjudicated. The claim for low back disability is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the current claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as anserine bursitis, is a result of his in-service injury during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA). As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and hypertension disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee disability, including a bruised left knee, osteoarthritis, and meniscectomy residuals, warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including cellulitis, otitis media, tinnitus, nasopharyngeal cancer (claimed as throat cancer), diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (claimed as blindness), coronary artery disease, and degenerative joint disease of both knees. The preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claims.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee disorder, low back disability, and bilateral foot calluses. The Board determined that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.