Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess residual scarring. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as whether it is secondary to service-connected rheumatoid arthritis or left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals from an infected toe, and his bilateral knee disorder and low back disorder are not related to service. The Veteran's residuals of a head and neck injury (claimed as tremors and a seizure disorder) were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's new VA examination will provide an opinion on whether her current right knee disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with residuals of a total knee replacement, is related to an injury sustained during active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to new evidence submitted. The decision is pending further development and review.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were granted. However, his claims for lumbar spine disability, right knee osteoarthritis, and cervical spine disability were not supported by evidence of a nexus to active duty service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further review due to the need to consider whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis should be granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. However, further development is needed to determine the etiology of his tinnitus and to secure any relevant medical records from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteochondritis of the left knee is secondary to his service-connected residuals of right knee injury, postoperative osteochondritis dissecans with instability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and subsequent knee replacement, is not related to his period of active service or any incidents therein (to include presumptively), nor proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability did not manifest within one year of service and was not caused or aggravated by any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's fracture of the second metatarsal of the left foot is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The appeal has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-operative residuals of total right knee replacement with a history of traumatic arthritis, is not productive of chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity. There is no evidence of ankylosis, extension limited to 30 degrees, or nonunion of the tibia and fibula with loose motion requiring a brace.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and laxity with internal derangement are currently rated at 20 percent each, while hypertension is not service-connected. The bilateral foot disability has been granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied service connection claims for right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, and a left knee disability. The Veteran's reported stressors during service are being considered in determining whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and SSA disability determination records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule VA examinations for his claimed conditions due to the failure of VA to schedule him during times he was available.