Knee decisions — 2008

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and clarification on whether his service-connected orthopedic disorders alone prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left total knee replacements are remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent due to instability alone, but granted him an additional 10 percent rating for arthritis with painful limitation of flexion. The effective date is not specified as it was part of a previous reduction and subsequent restoration.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or substantially confined to his house due to service-connected conditions, thus denying the claim for special monthly compensation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of skin cancer or a right knee disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran is not entitled to an extended period of convalescence for her left knee disability from January through March of 2006.

The VA has decided that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for the veteran's right knee disability, and thus further development is needed to determine if there is any link between the veteran's current condition and her military service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, as well as arthritis of the right knee. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, but new evidence received since the May 1985 rating decision reopened the previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left knee disability during service or within one year after discharge, and the medical opinions provided do not establish a relationship between any current left knee disability and service. As such, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability must be denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which create a hazard in his daily environment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition, multiple scars, residuals of an eye injury, and a bilateral knee disorder. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or link them to military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings were denied. The Board found that the residuals of his left and right knee injuries did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for shoulder and leg disabilities, but granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities. The issue of increased rating for the cervical spine disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case to afford the veteran a VA orthopedic examination to determine the current nature, extent and etiology of any right knee disability. The issue remains denied at this stage.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current tinnitus is related to his military service. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and thoracic spine disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his low back, bilateral knee and eye disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of any increased evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee condition is unrelated to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 20, 2004 for his TDIU award. The effective date was fixed based on when he filed his informal claim for TDIU.