Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including consideration of service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is service-connected, but his right knee osteoarthritis is not related to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee pain are being reviewed again with additional evidence.

The Veteran's left above-the-knee amputation was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The Board found that the amputation resulted from an infection of the graft site, which occurred despite appropriate antibiotic treatment.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and instability, has been rated at 20 percent since the effective date of service connection. The Board finds that a higher rating is warranted for his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, which is a tear of the medial meniscus, was incurred during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) in July 2009. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his service-connected right knee and right ankle disorders, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability (Major Depressive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to July 29, 2004.

The Veteran does not have a current right knee disability that is related to active duty service and the Board finds no evidence of chronic right knee condition in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, but denied service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of left tibial tubercle fracture with osteoarthritic changes and chronic chondromalacia of the knee; entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for recurrent subluxation of the left knee; and entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, hypertension, hypertensive heart disease and osteomyelitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of bilateral ear infections with vertigo. The claim for lumbar DDD and cervical spine stenosis with radiculopathy was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes, lumbar spine, status post lumbar laminectomy with instrumentation has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran meets the threshold disability rating requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to contaminants.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right thigh myositis ossificans and right knee osteoarthritis were granted initial evaluations in excess of the assigned ratings. Service connection was established for hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary obstruction, and hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new examination of the left knee disability and an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of the current disability ratings for his service-connected conditions.