Knee decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent effective December 16, 2008. The RO found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action due to outstanding records from Eaton Corporation and the United States Postal Service, as well as potential service connection issues related to the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted with an effective date of June 16, 2006. This decision is based on new evidence submitted after a previous denial in September 2005.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip and knee disabilities, including whether they are related to his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee were all granted. The Board found that there was at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to afford him an opportunity for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a back disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that any are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the right and left knees were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no evidence of a worsening in his left ear hearing loss or any new conditions related to his service-connected metallic foreign body. The Veteran's bilateral knee and hip degenerative joint diseases were not found to be secondary to his service-connected condition, and his lumbar spine disease was also not found to be secondary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current arteriostenosis, left above-the-knee amputation, and peripheral vascular disease of the right leg are not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability or left knee disability that was incurred in service. The VA examiner found no nexus between the current right knee tear and military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed low back, left hip, and right knee disorders were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia. The left knee disability claim is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Veteran's current residuals of an in-service right knee injury were found to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the wrists and knees, as well as GERD, have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Veteran's internal derangement of the left knee is currently rated at 20 percent, while his degenerative joint disease of the left knee is rated at 10 percent, and his degenerative joint disease of the right knee is rated at 10 percent.