Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressor actually occurred.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left ankle injury, right knee, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability has been denied as there is no current evidence of a right knee condition. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and low back disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and adjudicate the issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including below the knee amputation and osteoarthritis of the left knee, render him unemployable in light of his educational and occupational history.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted higher disability ratings.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including arthritis of multiple joints, back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, and wrist pain, were not incurred in or caused by his active military service. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a connection between these conditions and his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be related to his service-connected right upper and lower extremity chronic muscle pain, residuals of an electrical shock injury. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and opinions to address his service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to extend a temporary total disability rating beyond December 31, 2008 due to left knee surgery. The appeal for service connection for heart disability and residuals of chest contusion was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his low back, right knee, and right ankle conditions have been 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 service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a third hearing before a VLJ.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease, hypertension, hernia, and psychiatric disability. The claim for a right knee disability is denied as not related to the service-connected left knee disability. Service connection for a separated rib cage was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

The Board finds an approximate balance of favorable and unfavorable evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity disorder (claimed as right leg idiopathic peripheral neuropathy), and right knee disorder. The decision is mixed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and meniscus tear, is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee instability with strain was initially rated at 20 percent prior to July 26, 2007 and reduced to 10 percent effective that date. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and bilateral leg disabilities, as well as increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, lumbar strain, and right knee disabilities. The appeals were not granted.