Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alopecia and urticaria, as well as his increased disability ratings for PTSD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae were all granted. The initial disability rating for urticaria was set at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and limitation of motion due to arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The scar associated with the condition does not warrant a separate evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, back disability, and left knee disability were denied as no evidence of a disease or injury related to these conditions was found during his active duty or any other period of service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain Army Reserve treatment records and verify the alleged in-service stressor of a fire at Fort Dix, New Jersey. If these are obtained and verified, the Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to determine if any current diagnoses are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left knee disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's current right knee disability is not deemed to be caused by VA medical treatment, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and initial disability ratings for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's current right knee condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, claiming they are secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or authorize VA to obtain relevant records.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain, and to provide an opinion on whether there is 50 percent or better probability that the disorder was caused or permanently worsened by the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left leg, and low back disabilities are not related to his period of active military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and increased the Veteran's disability rating to 70 percent effective March 23, 2009. The claim for higher ratings on other issues remains pending.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and found that he has PTSD as related to his in-service stressors. Service connection is also granted for ischemic heart disease, presumed due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected left knee fracture, chronic left quadriceps muscle strain, and chronic lumbosacral spine strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches, claimed as migraine headaches, is granted. The remaining claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. The appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for post-surgical complications of a total left knee arthroplasty is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a comprehensive examination to consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their combined effect on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.