Knee decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic testicular disorder, but denied service connection for right knee and low back disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to service or pre-existed his service and was aggravated by in-service injuries. The VA examiner will also consider if the current left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right hip injury, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral ankle strain.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, and service connection for a low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee and foot disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The disabilities are instead considered to be secondary to his service-connected pes cavus.

The Board has determined that an extra-schedular rating is not warranted for the Veteran's left knee disability as his symptoms are adequately contemplated by the regular schedular standards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disorder have been reopened, but the evidence does not support these claims. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the claim for a bilateral knee disorder was denied as there is no medical nexus between the current condition and active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability, but service connection is granted for chronic low back disability and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his service, but a current wrist disability may be due to his service-connected PTSD. His gastrointestinal disability may be due to his service-connected right hip and sacroiliac joint disabilities.,The Veteran has a current bilateral wrist disability that is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues related to service connection, with some claims reopened due to new evidence. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disorders did not manifest until many years after his discharge from service and are not otherwise etiologically related to his in-service right knee injury.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right leg or right knee disability that is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee injury residuals are shown to be manifested by complaints of painful motion, weakness, stiffness, and instability. The disability is not shown to be manifested by ankylosis, moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocated cartilage, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, moderate knee disability, or genu recurvatum. Normal X-ray findings are shown.

The Board denied entitlement to an increased rating for the right knee disorder and service connection for a low back disorder secondary to bilateral knee disorders.

The RO reduced the Veteran's evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective August 1, 2007. The Board found that this reduction was improper and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's cause of death, end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on aid and attendance of another person is granted, as he meets the criteria for housebound status due to his age and multiple non-service connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent combined.