Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right and left knee arthritis. After considering all evidence, including a VA examination and private medical opinions, the Board finds that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding whether the current bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to military service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, including as secondary to a right knee disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his request for an increased rating for s/p fracture of the right little finger remains denied.,The Veteran's right little finger fracture is not shown to have resulted in any amputation or present an exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his right knee disability. The issues include seeking a higher rating for his right knee condition and determining whether he should be granted service connection for left knee strain and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating for the condition is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are found to be aggravated by his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurogenic bowel, subconjunctival hemorrhages (claimed asphyxia residuals), and hair loss. The claims were not reopened or granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been manifested by occasional instability and giving away, complaints of pain and functional impairment comparable to limitation of left knee flexion to no less than 90 degrees and full left knee extension. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder bursitis and bilateral knee arthritis, as the previous VA examination did not provide sufficient etiological opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to missing STRs and incomplete medical records. The claim will be further developed to determine if her current right knee disability is related to her military service, including any injury during basic training.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,VA will need to arrange for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new VA examination of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has remanded the case due to an improper reliance on a September 2008 VA examination report, and the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities must be addressed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee with lower leg pain is being remanded due to incomplete development and need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise, and thus service connection for a right knee disability is granted.