Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of certain disabilities, including pharyngitis/sinusitis, thoracolumbar spine disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his treatment at a private medical facility.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an increased evaluation for his right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not present until more than one year following his discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dementia), finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors are supported by credible evidence and his current PTSD diagnosis is related to these events. The left knee disability was not incurred during service.

Effective September 20, 2001, the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees were granted. The effective dates are earlier than previously assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of her symptoms and impairment, with no additional rating granted for instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and therefore, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee pain, lower leg muscle disorder with flat feet, and left foot disability are not related to his military service. The low back disability is also denied as there is no evidence of a current condition within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's multiple joint pain, including arthralgia of the elbows, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology, including whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims were denied, with the exception of his claim for an increased rating for bilateral calluses, plantar warts, and metatarsalgia. The reduction from 30 to 10 percent was upheld.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective from March 10, 2011. The right and left shoulder disabilities are rated at the maximum available under the VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The June 2003 rating decision denying these claims is considered final.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for arthritis of the right hand, as it was not shown to be related to service. For arthritis of the left shoulder and right knee, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current disability within one year post-service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for tinnitus, sprained fingers, a left third finger fracture, cervical trauma, a left groin pull, a chipped bone, left elbow, a chipped bone, right elbow, a right hamstring disability (also claimed as thigh), a left hamstring disability (also claimed as thigh), right Achilles tendon trauma; lateral ligament injury, left wrist trauma, right wrist trauma, a right hand disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as nerve problem and trauma), depression, chronic pain syndrome, left Achilles tendon trauma, a left hand disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as nerve problem and trauma), and status post right great toe fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The claims for left ankle, knee, and hip disabilities were not addressed due to the lack of relevant medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury or chronic disability during service, and the weight of the evidence does not establish a link between current right knee symptoms and service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending as it encompasses all currently diagnosed conditions.