Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent from May 27, 2007 to September 19, 2009. The right knee strain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right or left knee disorders that developed as a result of his military service and/or are secondary to a service-connected disability. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on need for convalescence following surgery related to his service-connected left knee disabilities was granted, with the effective date being from June 1, 2010, to July 31, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine, hips, and knees are not related to his service-connected claw foot and edema. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for this condition. The residual disability due to a broken left second toe is also denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have been dismissed.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral foot, low back, or bilateral knee disabilities to service. The arthritis is not shown within one year of service and there is no competent medical evidence connecting these conditions to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current bilateral knee disabilities and that any claimed bilateral knee disorder is not related to service. The left knee abrasion resolved prior to separation, and there are no chronic symptoms of a bilateral knee disorder documented during or after service.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been rated at 20 percent since June 20, 2005. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability based on the range of motion and symptoms reported.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hip strain and left knee strain are not related to her service or any service-connected conditions, including her right ankle disability and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is proximately due to his service-connected left ankle disability and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, following a meniscectomy in October 2006, is now rated at 20% for the period on and after December 1, 2006.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and hip disabilities are not proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected bilateral pes cavus. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are more likely related to post-polio syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right or left knee disorder that began during service or is otherwise related to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, left shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The VA examiner provided rationale for each condition, concluding that there was no link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and finds no evidence of loose bowel syndrome due to service-connected gastritis or medication used for service-connected disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing an adequate examination for each issue on appeal.