Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations. The effective date for the increased ratings remains pending as it is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues include increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further medical evaluation is needed to determine if the appellant requires A&A or is housebound.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and erosive duodenitis, and determining if there are any outstanding claims or issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further action, including scheduling a DRO hearing and obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee strain is currently evaluated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects her disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected fractured coccyx and right knee disorder have been denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 26, 2005 for a 10 percent disability rating for right knee patellar chondromalacia.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and an earlier effective date was denied. The left knee condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, hearing loss has not been service-connected, and the low back disorder does not have a prior effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and knee replacements, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's conditions, while disabling, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee, were all granted. The Veteran now has a 10 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, dislocation of the patella and residuals of a soft tissue injury to the left foot. The Veteran's current right knee disorder is likely due to an in-service accident where he sustained trauma to his right knee.

The Board found no evidence of a current back or bilateral knee disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.,For the bilateral leg disorder issue, there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Veteran seeks retroactive payment of vocational rehabilitation benefits due to the need for additional training. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a left knee disability. The claim for service connection for psuedofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is remanded to obtain a medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected as it developed during his military service.