Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is productive of pain and some limitation of motion but without recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The criteria for assignment of a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete compliance with prior instructions.

Service connection was denied for a right knee disorder. The Veteran's right lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment is rated at the highest available schedular rating (10%). A compensable rating of 10% was assigned for status post inguinal hernia repair, effective from the date following separation from service.

The Veteran has a bilateral foot disability that is related to active service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hallux valgus, right knee arthrosis, and sleep apnea syndrome with REM sleep disorder, sleepiness and tiredness have been granted. The Veteran is now entitled to the assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The RO granted service connection for right ankle sprain with ligamentous laxity and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, which is upheld by the Board. However, the Veteran's initial ratings for right knee strain with infrapatellar tendonitis are denied as they do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and left hip disabilities. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing updated medical opinions regarding his knee disabilities and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a retained metallic foreign body of the left knee has been reopened and granted. His right fibula fracture with right knee arthritis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and an examination to determine if a back disability is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for each knee disorder, effective July 6, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including the residuals of a total knee replacement and arthritis, is rated at 30 percent since September 13, 2001. The rating for the period prior to March 22, 2006, was increased to 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left knee injury, finding no medical evidence linking the current DJD to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral elbows and granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee with a rating of 10%. The right knee condition remains unaddressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and medical records from VA and non-VA providers.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was not manifested to a compensable degree within the first year after discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee arthritis did not become manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a left knee injury was denied. His claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a deviated septum from January 11, 2005 to March 1, 2008 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and needs further examination.