Knee decisions — 2010

The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient evidence of aggravation during service, and his current conditions are considered direct service connections.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and he was granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability to his active service, and denied the claim.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes strain and degenerative joint disease, is already rated at the maximum schedular evaluation available for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned for deformity of the vertebral body in the lumbar spine and a 20 percent evaluation assigned for moderate limitation of motion of the lumbar spine. The claim for an excess rating for residuals of compression fracture of the thoracic spine was denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current left leg/knee disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to military service. The claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability was incurred in service and the claim for hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver is denied. The claim for left side body tremors remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to the need for verification of periods of active duty and inactive duty training in the National Guard, as well as obtaining any service treatment records from those periods. The Veteran's left knee disability may be related to her National Guard service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and limitation of motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the service records associated with the claims file in November 2004.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed due to his service in Vietnam. Service connection for a right knee disorder and an irregular heartbeat are denied, but the Veteran has been granted service connection for prostate cancer with a noncompensable evaluation, erectile dysfunction with a noncompensable evaluation, and hemorrhoids with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have tinnitus attributable to active military service and denied his claim for service connection. For the knee disability, while there is a currently diagnosed bilateral subluxation of the patellae, no nexus opinion has been sought to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for her right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if her current condition is related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right leg and knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and arthritis of the knees, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.