Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including as secondary to service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and address inconsistencies found in a June 2005 VA QTC examination report.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed to determine the etiology of any currently present right knee disability and whether it is related to service, specifically including the May 2005 motor vehicle accident during the Veteran's third period of active military service (July 2004 to May 2005).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and major depressive disorder have been denied. The initial rating assigned by the RO was a noncompensable (0%) rating, which has not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for certification for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied in November 1982 and reopened in August 2006. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Prior to February 23, 2008, he had a noncompensable evaluation for right knee disorder due to recurrent subluxation or lateral instability (Diagnostic Code 5257). Since February 23, 2008, he has been assigned a 10% evaluation for degenerative joint disease post meniscectomy with limited range of motion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities of the feet (residuals of cold injury).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating were denied. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with separate ratings for limitation of flexion and ACL deficiency.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (left knee disability and right knee disability) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, based on arthritis with painful motion and evidence of slight instability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder, diverticulosis, rectal adenocarcinoma, and residuals of a left lumpectomy procedure have been granted initial evaluations. The left knee disorder is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his VA medical records and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder had onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The left knee disability, however, did not have onset during his active service and was denied.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic arthritis of the left knee, status postoperative ACL reconstruction due to a lack of evidence showing a medical relationship between the current disability and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining private treatment records from the Cleveland Clinic and VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee and ankle condition due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and records, as well as for further development of the claims.