Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not attributable to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's knee disability is not caused or made worse by his service-connected left ankle disorder, and thus denied secondary service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30% prior to November 30, 2004 and increased to 40% between January 1, 2005 and September 12, 2006. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20%.,The Veteran was granted a separate rating of 10% for instability of his right knee from November 30, 2004 to January 1, 2005 and again between January 1, 2005 and September 12, 2006.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was rated at 60% as of November 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating effective March 6, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the ankles, right leg, knees, and hips are denied as there is no evidence of current chronic disabilities. The Veteran has been granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medical meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease, was manifested by complaints of pain (with arthritis documented by X-ray) and evidence of pain on motion along with further limitation of motion due to fatigue, weakness, lack of endurance, and incoordination. However, flexion was limited to no less than 118 degrees, normal extension, and no medical evidence of instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders were denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury was also denied. The Veteran's hammer toe deformity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a compensation and pension examination to determine her ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claims are also being remanded due to the need for further adjudication of several issues related to service connection.

The Veteran does not currently have any of the claimed conditions and there is no service connection granted for any condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, secondary service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and increased rating have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further information regarding his eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance. The case will be reviewed again after additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and documentation of adaptive changes made to his home.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for further development of his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD secondary to personal assault, psychosis, and schizoaffective disorder. The Veteran was not granted service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left knee pain to obtain additional records, including unit history from his service in the Persian Gulf War. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD due to verified stressors during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic left hip condition, but denied service connection for chronic left knee and left ankle conditions due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disability of the right hand, and for higher ratings for bilateral pes planus, major depression, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current neurological disability of the right hand, and that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating or increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, major depression, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each since December 29, 1997.