Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected knee and radiculopathy disabilities have been granted increased evaluations, with the right knee receiving a separate evaluation for instability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ulnar neuropathy, left knee lateral release with osteoarthritis, and right shoulder status post labral tear repair on or after December 9, 2010.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for effective dates of February 17, 2005 for the grants of service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The claim for future routine examinations is denied. A VA examination is needed to assess the existence and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The appeal is not yet decided.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was denied, and his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition secondary to pes planus was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder on a direct basis and for right and left knee disorders. The evidence does not support granting these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his current right knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The appeal is now pending again with the RO/AMC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right total knee replacement, and therefore grants service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has reconsidered the Veteran's claims and finds that there is no evidence of a left knee disorder, gynecological disorder, anemia, sinusitis, or hypertension in service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities have been denied. The RO has assigned a 10% rating for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow has been withdrawn. The remaining claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, left knee, and diabetes mellitus are addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are of service origin, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to clarify the Veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis in both knees, as well as determine if his current knee conditions are related to his service-connected right knee disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have right and/or left foot disability, right and/or left knee/leg disability, or left ankle disability that is the result of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The current disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine, right hip, and right knee arthroscopy have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia are pending further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, including the aggravation of his existing low back disability, is being remanded due to the need to obtain a medical opinion from Dr. Nagalla.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by internal derangement and instability as well as degenerative changes, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective October 1, 2008, due to his service-connected right knee disability preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.