Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis was denied. The RO found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and bilateral knee disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle fusion, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and other conditions. The TDIU has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs further examination for service connection of left ankle, knee, back, and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the nature and etiology of various claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of skin cancer of the nose, arthritis of the right knee prior to July 18, 2007, or arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was not addressed as it is pending before the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting torn medial meniscus, left knee did not undergo an increase in severity during service and was therefore not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a total knee replacement, left knee is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the appellant's knee disabilities did not originate in service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, and finds that a right knee injury was incurred in service. The Board affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt and grants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA orthopedic examination, excluding Dr. Ford and the May 2003 examiner, to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back, left hip, and right knee disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an extension of a temporary total evaluation and an increased rating for PTSD, finding that there was no medical evidence indicating he required convalescence post-surgery or had other conditions necessitating such a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral heel spurs, and left leg disorder (to include knee) are all service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple knee replacements, render him unemployable.