Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, finding that there is no objective evidence of laxity or instability and that the Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including bilateral foot disabilities, left and right hip/knee disabilities, rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, residuals of a nasal fracture (including deviated septum), sleep apnea, and chronic folliculitis. The Veteran's hearing loss is also service connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and left knee disability, finding no evidence of a current disability in either case.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but denied service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the November 2009 VA examination is not adequate for the issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus and right knee disability. The Veteran should be scheduled for a new VA examination to address these medical matters.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease with history of anterior cruciate ligament repair, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board concluded that there is no credible evidence to support a claim for service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on housebound status or permanent need for regular aid and attendance has been remanded due to an inadequate examination. The case will be readjudicated after a new VA examination is conducted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee strain is not related to her military service or her service-connected right knee and/or low back disabilities, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, knee, skin, psychiatric, and left ankle disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The claim for peripheral neuropathy was not addressed due to the absence of a specific request.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury with healed lacerations.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint and leg disorders, including arthritis of the left hip, right knee, bilateral ankles, bilateral legs, and gouty arthritis of the feet. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. She will be rescheduled for another Board hearing at the RO.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's reports of an in-service injury were considered, but no chronic right knee disability was established or presumed due to its absence during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn, and his left knee disorder was rated at 30 percent effective January 1, 2010. The rating includes limitation of extension to 30 degrees and instability from January 1, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including those related to his cervical and lumbar spine conditions. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's effective dates for the increased ratings of his right knee and ankle disabilities are set to June 23, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being added to the file since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The veteran is requested to respond to this new SSOC.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right ankle disability and reopened claims for cervical, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology. Further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional action as directed by the Court's October 2011 Order granting the Parties' Joint Motion to Remand. The case is now pending further examination and development.

The Veteran's left knee TKA was granted a 60 percent rating effective June 1, 2010. The ratings for arthritis of the left and right hips remain at 10 percent each.