Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee pain, lower leg muscle disorder with flat feet, and left foot disability are not related to his military service. The low back disability is also denied as there is no evidence of a current condition within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's multiple joint pain, including arthralgia of the elbows, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology, including whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims were denied, with the exception of his claim for an increased rating for bilateral calluses, plantar warts, and metatarsalgia. The reduction from 30 to 10 percent was upheld.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective from March 10, 2011. The right and left shoulder disabilities are rated at the maximum available under the VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The June 2003 rating decision denying these claims is considered final.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for arthritis of the right hand, as it was not shown to be related to service. For arthritis of the left shoulder and right knee, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current disability within one year post-service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for tinnitus, sprained fingers, a left third finger fracture, cervical trauma, a left groin pull, a chipped bone, left elbow, a chipped bone, right elbow, a right hamstring disability (also claimed as thigh), a left hamstring disability (also claimed as thigh), right Achilles tendon trauma; lateral ligament injury, left wrist trauma, right wrist trauma, a right hand disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as nerve problem and trauma), depression, chronic pain syndrome, left Achilles tendon trauma, a left hand disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as nerve problem and trauma), and status post right great toe fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The claims for left ankle, knee, and hip disabilities were not addressed due to the lack of relevant medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury or chronic disability during service, and the weight of the evidence does not establish a link between current right knee symptoms and service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending as it encompasses all currently diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's heart murmur, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and allergic rhinitis have been granted service connection. The RO is directed to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the severity of her bilateral knee disabilities and allergic rhinitis, with a focus on summer months for the latter condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling new examinations, and considering all evidence since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The underlying issue of whether service connection is warranted will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including eczema, lumbar spine strain, right and left knee disabilities, and DJD of the shoulders, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran has experienced intermittent, recurrent gastroenteritis since service and his left knee disability is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis was aggravated during active duty for training (ACDUTRA), and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective from October 10, 2006 due to service-connected heart disease. The Board found that the evidence did not establish he was unemployed and unemployable prior to this date.