Knee decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back, right knee, and left knee disorders are not related to his active service. The VA examinations and medical opinions concluded that these conditions were less likely than not caused by or incurred during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including cardiac disease and cervical spine disorders, are not service-connected as they were first shown decades after military service and are unrelated to any incident during active service. The claims for secondary service connection have also been denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, multiple calcified pleural plaques in both lungs (claimed as asbestosis), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with pacemaker installation, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence received since the September 2007 RO decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of both knees, bronchial asthma, and urinary tract infection. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right leg disability, including his right knee condition, did not have onset during service and was not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disorder is being remanded due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling an appropriate Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show subluxation, lateral instability, ankylosis, nonunion or malunion of the tibia and fibia, or genu recurvatum in either knee.

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

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from November 26, 2008. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is part and parcel of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disorder, including after a total knee arthroplasty, were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, right eardrum disorder, knee disorder, vertigo, dizziness, and wrist fractures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and a right knee condition, finding no evidence of treatment or diagnosis during military service.

The Board has directed the VA to obtain additional treatment records from the Orlando VAMC. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's knees and lumbar spine to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when combined as a single disability, do not meet the threshold percentage standards for TDIU. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran is capable of performing sedentary work with certain limitations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an opinion on whether the service-connected disabilities render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between current disabilities and service. The Veteran's complaints of pain in joints are being evaluated again by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for disability manifested by joint pain in the bilateral ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows. The joints with arthralgia (ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows) are considered to have no known clinical diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the claim is still pending as it requires further development before being readjudicated on its merits.