Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The issue of entitlement to nonservice-connected pension remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of chronic residuals or treatment for these conditions during active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the current diagnoses were not caused by, the result of, or related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine their impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected knee disabilities and their impact on her employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to clarify the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and any relevant Reserve or National Guard records. A VA examination will be scheduled for each of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records and clinical treatment records, as well as to provide her with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current back, left shoulder, and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was denied by the RO, as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right knee injury or disease during active duty, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied. The issue of pulmonary berylliosis remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and found that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded to the RO for further consideration on de novo review.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining evidence of his income between March 28, 2004 and March 19, 2005, and providing VA medical opinions regarding whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right knee residuals of medial meniscal tear and synovitis with plica, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded due to inadequate examination regarding the relationship between these conditions and other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability with traumatic arthritis has been rated as 10 percent disabling. From February 28, 2008 to August 22, 2010, the Veteran was granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent for limitation of flexion of his service-connected right knee. The claim for degenerative joint disease (degenerative changes) of the left wrist has been denied as not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied by the RO, as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for DJD, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms without warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-operative medial meniscectomy of the right knee and traumatic arthritis of the right knee were denied as there was no evidence to support a higher rating based on current medical findings.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and cervical spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, and neuroforaminal narrowing. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a right knee injury, which is found to be aggravated by military service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) remains denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and a previous meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The VA determined that the condition does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The appellant will be scheduled for VA examinations in support of her claims for hypertension, left knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his current knee and back disabilities.