Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected knee disabilities, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and readjudication of her claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and donor site scar on the left hip were denied. The rating assigned for arthritis in the right knee was found to be appropriate, as was the rating for the donor site scar.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology, including whether it is related to her service or due to her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (specifically major depression rather than PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability and service connection for a right hip condition, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his service connection claim for a right knee disability, which is inextricably intertwined with his clothing allowance claim. The case will be returned to the Board after proper adjudication of the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, the Board finds no evidence linking the Veteran's ganglion cysts or bilateral shoulder disorders to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee disability is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board finds that it is as likely as not the Veteran's right knee disability and back disability are related to his active service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current left knee disorder and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee disability is causally linked to an in-service injury. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disability, to include ruptured cartilage, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable disability evaluations for multiple superficial retained shell fragments involving the bilateral knee areas, thoracic spine area, and left arm and wrist areas was denied. The VA found no residual scarring or functional impairment from these retained shrapnel fragments.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability and his service or a service-connected condition, including his left foot disability. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left and right knee osteoarthritis status post-total knee arthroplasty were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent. The RO has granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee effective February 2, 2007.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion and/or examination regarding the impact of her low back and bilateral knee disabilities on her employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection purposes related to right ear hearing loss. The initial ratings assigned for retained shrapnel, right thigh; Achilles tendonitis, right ankle; retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee; and residuals of choroidal rupture, left eye were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee was granted, effective May 1, 2003. He is currently in receipt of a 20 percent rating.