Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and additional VA examinations are needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorders, including Osgood-Schlatter disease and arthritis, were aggravated by service. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for his low back and left knee disabilities and service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder was denied. The Board remanded the case for additional development, but ultimately continued the denial.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service injuries and that there is continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected low back disability, are not related to his military service. Additionally, the Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle arthritis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability, presumed secondary to his service-connected right tibia fracture, also warrants service connection. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis in both hips are all granted with specific evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability of the right or left lower extremities that is causally related to service. The claims for these disabilities are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not rated higher than the currently assigned 10 percent for each knee, as his flexion is limited to more than 30 degrees.

The Board found that the reduction of the ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia with associated DJD from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective December 1, 2006, was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot disabilities, ulcers, hypertension, bilateral shoulder disability, PTSD, or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to reassess the severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining SSA records and medical records associated with those records.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance (A&A) is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA treatment records, an incomplete VA examination, and the need to address whether she requires A&A or is permanently bedridden.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant and his authorized representative.