Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's right knee disability, including postoperative residuals of a total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent. The medical evidence shows that the right knee disability is manifested by limitation of flexion to 125 degrees; there is no limitation of extension or instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for lung granulomas, a right arm disability, and a right knee disability. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new medical examination and consideration of various theories of service connection.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis were granted service connection as they are related to his service. The right knee disorder is also granted service connection, but secondary to his already service-connected left knee disability. Service connection for the muscle condition in the left leg was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for asthma, higher ratings for migraine headaches, and initial rating for degenerative changes of the thoracic spine.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her right knee retropatellar pain syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from December 1, 2007. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and due process concerns, including obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his left knee disability and the severity of neurological abnormalities associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss, service connection for low back disorder, and service connection for bilateral knee disorder have been denied due to his failure to cooperate with the VA by failing to report for scheduled examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne and arthritis of the bilateral knees, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied claim for chloracne. The Board also found that the current knee conditions were unrelated to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for fibromyalgia, a right knee disorder, Wildervanck syndrome with Duane's retraction syndrome and Klippel-Feil syndrome, and chest pains. The Veteran's service-connected status post bilateral epididymectomy and left spermatocelectomy is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for payment of monetary benefits based on a temporary total disability rating awarded under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 is denied as the earliest assignable effective date is April 1, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the right leg, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for residuals of a sprain of the right ankle.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the left leg was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, but denied it on the merits. The evidence does not establish that his current left knee disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's traumatic joint disease of the knees is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, and the Board has granted service connection for this disability.

The Board found that the September 1980 bicycle accident was due to the Veteran's willful misconduct, and thus denied service connection for his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for injury to the left knee, tinnitus, empyema (residuals of pneumonia postoperative), and bilateral high frequency hearing loss have been denied. The evidence does not support higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues for PTSD, increased ratings for left sacroiliitis and left knee patellar tendonitis, and a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection and ratings for knee disabilities, with the Board finding that further development is necessary.