Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's right ear hearing acuity has been no worse than Level I throughout the appeal period, resulting in a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Central Office or Travel Board hearing. The issues include reopening claims for service connection for mental trauma, sexual dysfunction, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disabilities since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected knee conditions and for service connection for allergies were denied. The Veteran's right total knee replacement was rated at 30 percent, while the left total knee replacement with bursitis and degenerative joint disease was also rated at 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for left knee traumatic arthritis and denied a prior effective date. The Veteran's claim was granted with a 10% evaluation effective February 1, 2005.

The Veteran's right knee disorder and bilateral eye disorders are granted service connection. The Veteran's back and left ankle disorders do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right and left knees has been rated at 10 percent each, effective May 29, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of subluxation or lateral instability in either knee.

The Veteran is entitled to dependents compensation for his spouse at the TDIU rate from February 25, 1999.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and knees, as there was no in-service injury or chronic condition seen within one year post-separation. The Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service treatment records and VA treatment records, and to determine if any current knee disabilities are related to a qualifying period of active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability was incurred during service and continues to exist, granting service connection for arthritis of the back.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a torn quadriceps tendon of the right knee and an increased evaluation for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claims for left knee and left hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee injury with osteoarthritis, right knee cystic bursitis with osteoarthritis, and compression fracture at T7-8. The Veteran was not granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and the obtaining of additional medical records.