Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by instability and arthritis, was rated at 30 percent effective December 22, 2011. A separate 10 percent rating for limitation of motion is also granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for migraines and a right knee disability have been granted, with the migraine rating set at 10 percent. The right knee disability has an initial rating of 10 percent, which was later increased to 30 percent effective March 5, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disorder has been rated at 20 percent since May 25, 2010.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for migraine headaches and left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are linked to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal on all issues related to service connection and evaluations for various conditions, including knee instability, genitourinary disorder, mechanical low back strain, patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, and right shoulder tendonitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to obtain his complete service treatment records, including those from the Army Reserve Personnel Center and the Alabama Adjutant General Office.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluations for his ganglion cyst of the right wrist and early loss of the medial joint space of the right knee have been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right or left knee disabilities related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his active service. The decision also noted that crutches used following total knee replacements did not cause or aggravate his left shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) and referred it back to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. S. and Dr. S.G., and requesting an opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right knee strain, finding that there was no pending claim prior to August 20, 2007 and thus the earliest possible effective date is August 20, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders, specifically patellofemoral arthritis of both knees, are related to his military service and have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's post-operative left knee disability has been objectively shown to be manifested by no more than total knee replacement residuals, arthroscopic revision residuals; villonodular synovitis; severe chronic knee pain and weakness; an antalgic gait; and a left knee range of motion of 0 to 95 degrees. The criteria for a 60 percent evaluation have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, and there is no competent evidence linking his current left knee disorder to any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of partial patellectomy of the right knee have been manifested by arthritis with painful flexion greater than 30 degrees and full extension to 0 degrees, fatigue, weakness, and less than moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The Board finds that a higher rating for right knee instability under Diagnostic Code 5257 is not warranted for any period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee chondrocalcinosis with tricompartmental osteoarthritis, DJD is being remanded due to the need for further development of his current disability level.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is productive of pain with some limitation of motion, but flexion and extension are not limited to the prescribed percentages. The disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.