Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to consider new evidence and obtain medical opinions regarding the veteran's knee disorder and flat feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left and right knee conditions are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back disorder, right knee meniscal tear, and right knee arthritis were denied. The veteran was granted a compensable evaluation (10 percent) for his residual scar from the urethroscope/meatotomy procedure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disorder or gastrointestinal disorder that is related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for postoperative traumatic arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left knee patellofemoral syndrome and service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her symptoms did not warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a right leg above-the-knee amputation, which he claims is due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining 1995 VA medical records and providing a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a complete record, including an opinion from a qualified examiner regarding whether the veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability or if it had its onset during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for plantar keratosis and service connection for a left knee disability, finding that her bilateral plantar keratosis warranted a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7819-7804. The Board also found no evidence to support the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability secondary to her service-connected plantar keratosis.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee disability was incurred in service, resolving doubt in his favor.

The Board found no current disability of bilateral knee or ankle disorders, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability and PTSD, and did not address the initial rating claims. The veteran's current symptoms of knee and foot disabilities are related to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his bilateral knee disability claim and service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, and because there was no credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral foot disability, back disability, or left knee disability related to active service. The numbness of the right arm is also not considered secondary to a service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for her service-connected left knee disability and denied her claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking the current right knee disability to her service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, right acetabulum, left acetabulum, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities, and remands the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for schizophrenia, hemorrhoids, and a disability of the right wrist. The issues of service connection for knees, right foot, and head injury were also addressed but are pending in the remand portion.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and adjudication of the veteran's claims, including obtaining a comprehensive VA medical opinion and addressing additional secondary service connection claims.

The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to September 24, 2001 that the veteran's PTSD had increased in severity or that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.