Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The claims for increased ratings are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and review due to the reduction in his rating for left knee disability. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's case is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining recent treatment records. The Veteran may be housebound or require aid and attendance based on his current disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability and concluded that the Veteran's reported pain is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied, and his request for an initial compensable evaluation for left knee disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right knee conditions secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records, private medical records, and an addendum to the August 2006 joints examination.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of objective evidence of limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his left knee disability was denied, and the right knee disability claim was also denied. The denial on both claims is due to lack of evidence supporting the requested ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disorders are not service-connected as they did not develop during or as a result of his military service. The right shoulder disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chondromalacia of the left and right knees, as well as initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for femorotibial subluxation of the left and right knees, are being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee strain and whether any diagnosed conditions are related to his service or aggravate his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current left knee disorder related to service, and thus the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since January 1, 2005. The Board found that the current rating is inadequate and denied an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, and bilateral leg/foot disabilities are not related to her military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities, each rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257. The Veteran's kidney stones are currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's right knee arthroplasty residuals have been rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee instability has been rated at 30 percent since July 12, 2001. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period prior to or after this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a missed VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is now before the RO again.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a torn medial meniscus and probable tear of the lateral meniscus of the left knee, with patellar tendinitis from August 27, 2005, was denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis with limitation of extension between August 27, 2005 and August 3, 2008, was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable disability rating for her service-connected eczema, left knee disability, or migraine headaches. She was also denied service connection for bilateral athlete's foot, low back pain, and abdominal pain.