Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, costochondritis, and right foot hallux valgus was denied. The RO increased the rating to 30 percent for PTSD but only effective from March 26, 2009.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been characterized by subjective complaints of instability, requiring a 10 percent rating. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the obtaining of relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and considering his employment status.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided are not adequate for rating purposes and has ordered additional examinations to clarify whether the Veteran's knee disabilities were caused by service, or if they are related to a congenital defect. The appeal is also remanded for obtaining all of the Veteran's post-service treatment records from the Memphis VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with service connection for chronic post-operative left knee neurological disorder (including nerve loss and deformity) established. Increased evaluations are also granted for the Veteran's left knee meniscectomy residuals with traumatic arthritis and left knee instability. An effective date prior to August 5, 2004, is granted for the award of service connection for right ankle degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability and bilateral ankle disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to the Veteran's service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran incurred a right knee disorder during service, and therefore grants service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral feet, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his active duty service in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic left knee or left ankle disability that is related to active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left shoulder injury, neck injury, right knee injury, and left knee injury were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims seeking increased ratings for pustular acne and Baker's cysts in the left knee have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, tinnitus, right knee disorders, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and any related instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence to decide the applicable theories of service connection for varicose veins and left knee disability.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service.,There is no evidence in the record to support a finding that any current disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms did not warrant an increased rating beyond 20 percent.