Knee decisions — 2010

All claims for service connection were denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the appellant's claimed conditions or exposure to potential causative agents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by instability and degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the appellant's left knee disability, including arthritis, may be related to his service. The RO must also obtain all of the appellant's VA treatment records from April 1967 to July 1997 and from November 2004 to present.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess his left knee and sinus disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right hand, right elbow, and bilateral foot conditions as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of active hepatitis B or any residuals thereof. The Veteran's claim for a left knee disorder was remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including DJD, ACL injury, and lateral meniscal tear, is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee with DJD. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chondromalacia of the knees, and a low back condition. The claims are now considered substantiated.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, his left knee disability remains at 10 percent, and his skin disorder prior to February 4, 2008, is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee post traumatic arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent from September 1, 2009. The RO granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the period after September 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee hyperextension injury is service-connected as it resulted from an in-service injury during active military duty.

The Veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for her service-connected status post left knee arthroscopy, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of her disability and its impact on her ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on the issues of initial increased evaluations for headaches and chronic thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease due to her withdrawal at a hearing. The right knee disability was granted service connection, but no higher evaluation is warranted.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral leg and knee disability as a result of VA surgical treatment on February 8, 2006. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals of left knee arthrotomy was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee internal derangement with traumatic arthritis and loose bodies is being remanded due to the possibility of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for a 40 percent rating for his right knee traumatic arthritis as of November 28, 2006. The effective date was set at that time to reflect the earliest possible increase in disability within one year prior to the receipt of his July 2003 claim.