Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated and requires additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the examiner regarding erectile dysfunction and a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an examination to address the etiology of any current bilateral knee and shoulder disorders.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right elbow disability, pharyngitis, low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims for hypertension (secondary to sleep apnea), right foot disorder, and bowel and bladder impairment were also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for his left knee disability was granted prior to February 27, 2007. A separate rating of 10 percent has been assigned since that date. Service connection for residuals of head trauma is denied.

The Board has restored service connection for right knee arthritis and assigned a 10% rating, effective January 31, 2003. The Veteran disagrees with this decision and wishes to appeal the issue.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, and he is currently rated at 30 percent. For the ankle disability, he received an increased rating to 30 percent effective June 17, 2010.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Pellegrini-Stieda of the left knee and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee with an initial rating of 10% effective February 4, 2008. The effective dates were assigned based on receipt of his reopened claims.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any current bilateral foot, ankle, knee or hip disorders and that these conditions are less likely than not related to his period of service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-operative residuals of a right anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscal repair with degenerative joint disease, has not been productive of any limitation of extension or flexion to the extent that would warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from May 25, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing nexus opinions on service connection claims.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is related to his service-connected arthritis, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of her low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, costochondritis, and right foot hallux valgus was denied. The RO increased the rating to 30 percent for PTSD but only effective from March 26, 2009.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been characterized by subjective complaints of instability, requiring a 10 percent rating. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the obtaining of relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and considering his employment status.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided are not adequate for rating purposes and has ordered additional examinations to clarify whether the Veteran's knee disabilities were caused by service, or if they are related to a congenital defect. The appeal is also remanded for obtaining all of the Veteran's post-service treatment records from the Memphis VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with service connection for chronic post-operative left knee neurological disorder (including nerve loss and deformity) established. Increased evaluations are also granted for the Veteran's left knee meniscectomy residuals with traumatic arthritis and left knee instability. An effective date prior to August 5, 2004, is granted for the award of service connection for right ankle degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability and bilateral ankle disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to the Veteran's service and denied his claim for service connection.