Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected right thigh muscle hernia is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5313 for severe muscle damage.

The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's right knee and skin disabilities, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of both feet, early DJD of the right knee, early DJD of bilateral ankles, and DDD at L5-S1 with spondylosis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional impairment, with the highest possible ratings granted for each knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for additional development to determine its etiology and whether it was incurred or aggravated during his service.

The Board has restored service connection for postoperative right knee injury residuals effective February 1, 2007. The original decision to sever this condition from service connection was found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's right knee disabilities, with an increased rating to 40 percent for internal derangement right knee with partial ankylosis and a separate 20 percent rating for traumatic arthritis right knee.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board video-conference hearing.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with corrected VCAA notice and an orthopedic examination of his service-connected right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The examiner should also provide an opinion regarding whether due solely to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, he is precluded from all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not met the criteria for a higher evaluation in either the period prior to July 25, 2006 or on and after that date.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee disorder were granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his left knee, ankle, and foot disorders. The decision is mixed as it includes both granted and denied issues.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, concluding that it did not clearly and unmistakably preexist his service. The current condition is not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which is status post total knee arthroplasty, has been rated at 60 percent since the filing of his claim in August 2007. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity and symptoms associated with the condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing and locating additional records. The claims will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.