Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the Huntington, West Virginia RO.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis and left leg/foot neuropathy, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim for left leg/foot neuropathy remains not reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for clarification regarding bone scans and separation examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not manifested by flexion limited to 45 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees, and therefore, the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability has been remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, feet, and knees, back disorder, eye disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hemolytic anemia are not supported by the evidence. The RO previously denied these claims multiple times without reopening them due to lack of new and material evidence.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected left or right knee disorder. The claims for fibromyalgia, tinnitus, and hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and for service connection for a right knee disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have evidence linking his current right knee disability to military service or to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and left knee disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability is denied because there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosed left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee injury and bilateral foot problems, finding no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for chronic upper respiratory infections was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the left knee status post total knee replacement is granted, as there is evidence linking his current condition to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected knee and hip disabilities were denied. The left knee was rated at 20%, the right knee at 10%, and the right hip at 10%. No separate rating was granted for mild degenerative changes of the left knee.

The Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic neck and shoulder pain secondary to cervical strain prior to January 12, 2005 is denied. For the period after January 12, 2005, the Veteran's disability remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA medical records and providing a VA examiner with an opinion on whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his active service.