Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective as of the date of the decision. The claim for service connection for pes planus remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalacia, is related to his military service. Additionally, the evidence supports a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions secondary to herbicide exposure, including multiple myeloma. The appeal is now with the RO for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and issuing a statement of the case on the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's hypertension claim is also remanded for another examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot/ankle disability, granting service connection for both conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his post-TKR left knee disability has been denied. The current 60 percent rating adequately reflects the severity and manifestations of his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right knee, left knee, or right hip disabilities and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability have been rated, with the extension issue receiving a separate rating effective May 24, 2011. The earlier effective date for the 20 percent rating for instability is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left knee disorder that is related to service, and denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.,For dental trauma, the VA examiner determined it was incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed blood disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and back disorder. The VA examiner found no direct link between these conditions and his service-connected splenomegaly.

The Veteran's right knee instability is currently rated at 30% since October 7, 2011. He also received a temporary total rating for hospitalization due to left knee surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, knee, and unspecified joint disabilities are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical evidence and for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to assess his left knee disorder, back disorder, and varicose veins. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing the Veteran with an examination to determine if his current hip and knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability, right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and chronic bronchitis is granted as his current diagnosed lumbosacral spine disc disease was aggravated by in-service combat-related trauma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and determining whether his hip or knee disabilities may be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and the need for VA examinations to determine if current knee or back disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot, hip, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability related to service. The VA examiners opined that these conditions are not linked to service.