Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The right knee instability claim was granted, but the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a separate rating. The cervical disk disease and low back condition claims were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, due to a lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed stressors and insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for right knee osteoarthritis and essential hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and a scrotal disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, and his left knee disorder (patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability) is rated at 10 percent prior to May 12, 2009, with a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee beginning May 12, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, migraine headaches, bilateral ankle disorders, bilateral shoulder disorders, a heart disorder, and a skin rash affecting the face, neck, and groin area are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the left knee and DJD of the left hip were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for each condition.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating for residuals of a left knee injury, post-operative with chronic pain and chondromalacia, from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective November 1, 2005, was not proper.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of residuals of a left knee partial medial meniscectomy, left knee DJD, and cervical DJD, C4-5.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by limited range of motion and pain on motion, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of residuals, fracture left fibula with left knee involvement and service connection for right leg disorder as secondary to the service-connected condition were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a stomach disability (to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and bilateral ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed hearing loss or stomach condition that was incurred in service or due to Agent Orange exposure. The ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities were also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected right wrist and knee conditions are being remanded to the RO for further development, including additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for an eye disorder or a bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran's claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee disability, excluding periods of temporary total evaluations under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 following surgical treatment, was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and needs further development before a final decision can be made.