Knee decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected psychiatric disability, bipolar disorder with depression. The cause of death was listed as probable cardiac arrhythmia due to an enlarged heart. Given the evidence, including the independent medical evaluation, which concluded that the medications prescribed for his psychiatric condition likely contributed to his death, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between the conditions and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an additional compensable rating and increased rating for his service-connected torn cartilage, right knee with degenerative changes. The decision found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003 or any other applicable codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right leg disorder and back disorders, as secondary to his service-connected residuals of aseptic meningitis. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further consideration, including a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right knee disability and whether there are objective evidence confirming neurological diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by DJD, does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating or separate ratings for instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others were not.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right ulnar nerve neuropathy and right knee disorder.

The Veteran does not have a knee disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, or acquired psychiatric disorder that were caused by his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to untimely filing. The initial rating claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, degenerative disc disease of the lower back, and cervical spondylotic changes are still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral elbow and ankle disabilities, as well as his claims for bilateral heel spurs, knee arthritis, hand arthritis, and left foot disability. The RO found that these conditions were not incurred in or caused by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a separate chronic headache disorder or other disabilities warranting separate ratings. The current rating for sinusitis is 30 percent and does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left total knee arthroplasty, finding that the current right knee disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips and left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's left knee disorder is also found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left knee disability, including residuals of a staph infection, which he alleges was caused by a July 2007 VA steroid injection. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records.