Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and right knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service, specifically the injuries he sustained in 1954 while playing football.

The Board finds support for service connection for a right knee disability and a pulmonary condition, but not for a right leg disability. The Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active service, while his pulmonary condition is presumed to be due to exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arterial hypertension with proteinuria and glomulosclerosis, low back pain, and a right knee condition, preclude gainful employment. The Board finds that the requirements for a TDIU rating are met.

The Veteran does not have a current left knee disorder that is due to an event or incident of his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and needs to request additional records from the JSRRC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating or service connection based on secondary disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is causally related to an in-service injury and finds it as likely as not incurred during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the left lower extremity were rated as 10 percent disabling prior to July 11, 2006 and as 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's post-traumatic degenerative arthritis of the left knee was rated as 10 percent disabling since July 11, 2006.,The Board found that an increased rating for varicose veins prior to July 11, 2006 and for post-traumatic degenerative arthritis beginning July 11, 2006 is not warranted under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the appellant was not unemployable by reason of service-connected disability for the period from November 29, 2006, through March 27, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected torn medial meniscus, right knee, post operative with instability since August 28, 2006. The maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5257 was not assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities, including arthritis and meniscus tear, have been evaluated based on their current severity.,His left knee disability has also been evaluated based on its current severity.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition that is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, and the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, as well as his right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as bilateral pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease, and Parkinson's disease. The Board found that his service-connected knee disabilities did not contribute substantially to his immobility or development of pneumonia.