Knee decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's back, feet, and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner opined that there was less than a 50% probability that these conditions were caused by events or injuries during service.

The Board is remanding the claims for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying representation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right leg/knee injury was denied, but he is now granted service connection for a psychiatric disability. His migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are related to his active military service. The benefit of the doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by laxity and retropatellar pain syndrome, warrants a 20 percent rating for lateral instability or recurrent subluxation. A separate 20 percent rating is also assigned for locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee and right femur disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees and cervical spine. The RO denied these claims in May 2001, finding no indication of arthritis within one year following service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to his service-connected left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities. The decision is considered final.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, environmental allergies, and lung disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show instability or additional disability beyond arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee, ankle, and low back disabilities. The claim for a higher rating for the low back disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and/or cervical spine disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the functional limitations of his lumbar spine, right shoulder and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the right knee did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral knee disability and its relationship to service-connected left ankle with traumatic arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date set at September 30, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of October 31, 2006. He also received TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from SSA and VA.