Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is as likely due to his service-connected left knee injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims to the RO for additional development due to missing service medical records.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gout, sleep apnea, right hip bursitis, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding service connection.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded as additional development is needed to determine if service connection can be granted. The claim for lumbar spine disability remains inapplicable due to lack of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and the acquisition of more recent treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder. The Board also found that the Veteran's current right knee disabilities are related to an inservice injury, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right elbow, left elbow, right knee, or left knee disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also found to be normal at the time of examination and no organic disease of the nervous system is presumed due to service. As such, all claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining clarification on whether the Veteran's claimed carpal tunnel syndrome is separate from his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The left knee disability claim is also being considered on a secondary basis to his right leg disability. The back disability claim is inextricably intertwined with the left knee disability and must be deferred at this time.

The Board found no evidence of frostbite or other cold injuries in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his current conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and increased to 50 percent effective February 20, 2009.,Since November 5, 2007, the Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities as well as bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for secondary service connection based on a service-connected lumbar spine disability was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record to ensure due process and to determine if a higher evaluation can be assigned for his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee, ankle, and hip disabilities are not related to her service-connected low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-operative medial instability of the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the left knee were denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent or 10 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected internal derangement of the left knee has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but his range of motion does not warrant a higher evaluation. The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted. The disability ratings for his cervical spine, lumbar spine, right and left knee disabilities, and bilateral hand arthritis have been adjusted based on the findings from recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the relationship between his right knee disability and service-connected migraine headaches, as well as the nature and etiology of his currently diagnosed bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome were remanded by the Board, but no effective date earlier than March 31, 2004 is granted.,An effective date of March 31, 2004 was assigned for the 10% rating for both knees.