Knee decisions — 2012

The Board found that the appellant's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left foot/ankle, low back, gouty arthritis, and chronic sinusitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The most probative evidence established that these conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's eye irritation, joint pain, headaches, chest pain, and right knee disability are all found to be due to undiagnosed illnesses related to service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including a bilateral foot disorder, left knee disorder, hiatal hernia, residuals of pilonidal cyst, residuals of cholecystectomy, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, heart disorder, asthma, and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar strain, right knee sprain, and left knee sprain. The Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left ring finger were also not granted an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was evaluated at 10 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability related to his military service, or that is secondary to his service-connected right knee arthritis.,However, the Veteran's skin disorder of the feet, diagnosed as residuals of tinea pedis, can be reasonably disassociated from his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current neck, shoulder, and knee disabilities are related to his in-service injuries. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, secondary to laxity of left knee, is being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The case will be reviewed after further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disorder that he contends is secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder. The case has been remanded for further development, including an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the May 2011 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide an updated VA examination and adjudicate the TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's Disease, right knee and assigned an effective date of February 2, 2006. The claim for lumbar spine disability is still pending as it was not reopened.

The Veteran's lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 20 percent since March 12, 1997. The effective date for the 10 percent evaluation of his left knee disability has been set as March 12, 1997.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date set at November 9, 2006. The initial rating assigned is 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left knee scar.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for his left knee instability and degenerative joint disease with painful motion since June 5, 2009.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back and right knee conditions, as well as whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a left knee disability status post surgery. The flat feet/foot disability (pes planus) was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for left foot disability, right knee disability, low back disability, and cervicitis. The Veteran's current left foot disorder is not related to her period of service.