Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining alternative evidence to support the appellant's claims of sexual assault and right knee disability. The VA will also seek additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current service-connectable low back disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, shin disorder (claimed as shin splints), or bruising of the upper back. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was restored to a 40 percent rating, and his spouse is granted special monthly compensation on account of the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and osteoarthritis. The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include bipolar affective disorder; PTSD; residuals of abrasions of the right hand; and a right knee disorder. The evidence submitted since January 2003 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's current hallux rigidus is causally related to his in-service diagnosis and treatment, thus service connection for this condition is granted. The left knee disability claim requires additional development as the VA examiner did not have access to all relevant records.

The Veteran's diffuse arthralgia of the ankles, knees, and hips is considered to be due to his January 2003 anthrax vaccination. His psychiatric disorder is also linked to this same exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right lower leg, thigh, knee, ankle, and back conditions have been denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions or any in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the knee. The rating has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability from July 1, 2006 to January 8, 2007 was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is it proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected left knee disability, but did not assign a specific rating or effective date.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's surgery and a new VA examination to determine if his right knee disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected residuals of right ankle peroneal tendon exploration with stabilization.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disorder, and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded the issues of initial evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee disorder present during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability did not manifest during or as a result of her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including deep venous thrombosis with varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities, adjustment disorder, left knee subluxation, limitation of flexion of the left knee, and hepatitis, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 6, 2011. As his combined evaluation was 90 percent at that time, he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left total knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination and opinion regarding the correct elective level for application of the 'amputation rule'.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative disc space narrowing, PTSD, left hip strain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Board has remanded the case for further development of her lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, as well as issuance of a statement of the case regarding her initial ratings for service-connected left hip strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Tinnitus, Thoracolumbar Spine Strain, Right Ankle Strain, and Right Knee Disability, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.