Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities may be related to service, but further examination is needed to determine their exact origins. The appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for internal derangement, flexion contracture, left knee. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee condition.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination. The issues of PTSD rating and service connection for lumbar fusion are also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral knee disability due to disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia and meniscus tear, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The psychiatric disorder is also found to be secondary to his right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral elbow, knee, and low back disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity disorder, diagnosed as traumatic neuropathy, is service-connected and was incurred during service. The right knee osteoarthritis is also service-connected and is considered secondary to the left lower extremity disorder.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his left lower extremity dysfunction due to abnormal weight-bearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability was granted, with the disability rated at 30 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation is assigned for instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he failed to appear at the scheduled VA examination and did not provide good cause.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder strain with bursitis, left knee strain, and lumbar spondylolisthesis with degenerative joint and disc disease.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from a total knee replacement performed in October 2005 and subsequent infection treatment. The case is being remanded to obtain records prior to the surgery, determine if additional disability exists, and assess whether it was caused by VA care.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of credible evidence supporting herbicide exposure and insufficient evidence linking his conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities and his service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, and renal disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for status post medial meniscus tear, left knee, with popliteal cyst and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for status post medial meniscus tear, right knee, with chondral defect and popliteal cyst.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are not supported by evidence of a current disability, and there is no medical nexus between his in-service injuries and any current bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board found that dyslexia was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and denied the claim. The claims for sarcoidosis and left knee disorder are pending, but further development is needed to determine their status.