Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for complications arising from a total left knee arthroplasty performed by VA in March 2005. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of any additional disability and whether it was caused by VA's care, treatment or examination.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted.,Service connection is granted for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use both lower extremities without aid.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's VA medical records from 1985 to 2002. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not related to his in-service injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and a potential gap in treatment records.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not sustain an injury to his left calf during service, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection of a right knee disability as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The merits of this issue are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated as 20 percent disabling, combining the separate ratings for arthritis and meniscal tear. The decision grants higher ratings based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed breathing condition. The Veteran will also undergo an examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer substantially contributed to his death from prostate cancer, and thus grants service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability and a separate compensable rating for a tender scar is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, left knee, and low back disorders. The next step is to determine if these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities were denied. The claims for cervical spine, low back strain with arthritis, right shoulder, and left knee conditions have been evaluated under the appropriate diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence was received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee/shin disorder, and schizophrenia. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis, was incurred during his active duty service.

The Board found that the current right knee disability is not related to service or the service-connected left knee disability and therefore denied the claim for service connection.