Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, vision impairment, and neurological disorders. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the submitted Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination. The TDIU claim will also be reconsidered.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left de Quervain's syndrome does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For her right knee patellofemoral syndrome, she received a 10 percent rating effective April 14, 2010, but the evidence shows that prior to this date, there was no limitation of motion warranting such a rating. After April 14, 2010, while painful motion is noted, flexion has not been limited to less than 30 degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's systemic lupus erythematous had its onset during service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative changes and instability post-surgery, is currently rated at 10 percent. The appeal for a higher rating has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his missing service records and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of right knee cartilage injury, status-post total knee replacement and revision are incurred in service. The claim for tinnitus is remanded as it requires further development.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is manifested by 0 degrees of extension, 110 degrees of flexion, and x-ray evidence of moderate tricompartmental arthritis. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee was not incurred or aggravated by service, including his service-connected right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board found no evidence to support a secondary relationship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant an increased rating or separate ratings for instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA medical opinion in December 2008. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is now before the Board again.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left knee and urethral constriction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee/leg disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The VA examination conducted in July 2011 concluded that it is less likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding all issues related to service connection and evaluations for GERD, left knee disability, tinnitus, and GAD.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right and left knee disabilities did not manifest during his military service or as a result of an injury sustained in service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his service treatment records and for a comprehensive VA examination to clarify the current diagnoses and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for further development and consideration of his claim for an increased rating for service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. The Board also noted that there was no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology from service to present. Therefore, the claim for service connection on a direct basis was denied.