Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for proper notification of new and material evidence requirements.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further review of additional evidence, including private treatment records and VA treatment records from 2007. The Veteran can request a supplemental statement of the case to discuss this new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee pain began in 1995, and is remanding the case for a new VA examination to determine if his current bilateral knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for residuals of thyroid cancer, right knee arthritis, and cervical spine spondylosis have been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for residuals of thyroid cancer, with a noncompensable rating for the right knee and a 20 percent rating for cervical spine spondylosis from June 2, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for a service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease of the left knee, is caused or aggravated by her service-connected right knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee disorders are being remanded to the RO due to the need for additional development, including consideration of whether a total rating is warranted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated at 50% from October 21, 2003 to August 14, 2007 and at 30% since then. The Veteran's degenerative changes with herniation at L1-2 and mild spondylosis at the thoracolumbar junction were rated at 20% from October 21, 2003 to August 14, 2007 and at 10% since then. The Veteran's degenerative changes of the right knee with history of chondromalacia and prepatellar bursitis were rated at 10%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in and of themselves without regard to his age, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right knee condition. The claim for left foot bunionectomy, claimed as secondary to service-connected postoperative scar of the left foot, remains pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic left knee disorder or chronic low back disorder in service, and the current conditions are not shown to be related to service. The appellant's claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that is related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, finding that his current disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service and are not proximately due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's right hip disability is denied as secondary to his service-connected right ankle fracture and bone graft. The Board finds that the pre-existing right hip condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder impingement syndrome, and right and left knee disabilities were denied. The left knee disability was rated at a combined 30 percent (10 percent under Code 5260 and 20 percent under Code 5257).

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for increased evaluations of right knee and left index finger disabilities is addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's quadriplegia is service connected as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and reopening of a left knee disorder claim were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or new and material evidence to reopen the left knee disorder claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims for chronic right hip, right knee, and left ankle disorders.