Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, residuals of a left knee strain, and migraine headaches with blackouts due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right patella fracture and associated conditions were denied. The RO granted service connection for arthritis and instability of the left knee, but did not increase their initial ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination conducted in February 2007. The Veteran's current right knee disability is being reviewed for its relation to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his right shoulder disability warranted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are currently evaluated at 20 percent each, while his residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that these evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not found to be related to his military service, atrial fibrillation did not warrant a higher rating, bilateral hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation, degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee were rated appropriately, and instability of the left knee warranted a separate 10 percent rating. The Veteran's right shoulder condition was also rated appropriately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims, including service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating codes. The Board found that he did not have moderate ankle disability, marked limitation of motion, or ankylosis of the right ankle.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee sprain that he contends occurred in the same accident as his head injury while parachuting. The RO has agreed that the Veteran sustained injuries in this 2003 parachuting accident, but now needs to determine if the current right knee sprain is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not show severe postoperative residuals such as an incompletely healed surgical wound, a need for therapeutic immobilization of the joint, or the necessity for continued use of a wheelchair or crutches because regular weight-bearing was prohibited.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the right foot disability being rated at 10 percent. The low back degenerative changes are considered to be proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted by the Veteran does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim for service connection for right knee disability, and thus the application to reopen is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right foot disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities based on evidence linking these conditions to an in-service automobile accident.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient reasoning and failure to provide a VA medical examination for clarification of the relationship between the Veteran's service injury and his current knee and shoulder disabilities.

Service connection for left knee disability and hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between the disabilities and service, or continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disability have been granted increased ratings, and he is now eligible for a TDIU based on his combined evaluation of 80 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and prosthetic replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent disabling for the periods from January 1, 2003 to July 2, 2003; from July 3, 2003 to October 6, 2004; and from December 1, 2005 to June 3, 2007. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations.