Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability and granted it. The left knee rating issue is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is etiologically related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a history of cold-induced bronchitis and postpartum hemorrhage, finding that these conditions are more likely than not related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new examination to determine the current severity of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and issuance of a SOC regarding his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia more likely than not had its onset in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The claim for residuals of a right knee injury is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to an injury sustained during active duty for training, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further development of evidence, including additional examination and review of medical records. The claims are not currently decided on their merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the current right knee disability is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee strains are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective July 16, 2005. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis with history of chondropathy, has been rated at 10 percent since September 1, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder was manifested by painful arthritis, but not by flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 5 degrees, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, ankylosis, dislocation of the semilunar cartilage, removal of the semilunar cartilage, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum. From December 4, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder was manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees, but not by extension limited to 5 degrees, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, ankylosis, dislocation of the semilunar cartilage, removal of the semilunar cartilage, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum. The Veteran's right knee disorder warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent starting from December 4, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder has aggravated his right knee disability, warranting secondary service connection.,The Veteran is currently assigned the maximum 20 percent rating for his service-connected right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether there is instability in his right knee, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's DDD was found to be at least as likely as not due to or a result of military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, heel, and ankle disability claims remain unresolved.

The Veteran's permanent and total service-connected disability due to bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability has been established, which allows for the provision of specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is withdrawn. The staphylococcal infection to the left knee resolved after treatment and is not currently shown. The cause of the Veteran's eczema is not related to his total knee replacement and thus is not a result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing the hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain have been granted service connection with initial ratings of 10 percent each. The effective date is February 22, 2004.