Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability and for consideration of staged ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of previously denied service connection claims were evaluated. The claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was not granted, as the evidence did not show restrictions or complications warranting a higher evaluation. Service connection for PTSD and bilateral knee disorder was reopened based on new evidence, but no new rating was assigned due to lack of compensable criteria. The Veteran's claim for residuals of bilateral leg disability remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's request for a computer and associated training under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 31 was denied as it is not considered necessary to achieve independent living.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia patella.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a low back disorder secondary to left knee degenerative joint disease, and arthritis of the right knee secondary to left knee degenerative joint disease. The evidence did not support these claims as they were determined to be either not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to follow directives in a prior remand, and the Veteran is requested to provide authorization forms for release of treatment records from his former employers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The case was remanded multiple times, but the final decision upheld the initial denial of service connection for a low back disorder and granted a 30 percent disability rating for right knee traumatic synovitis with incoordination secondary to pain from February 17, 1998 to December 29, 2002. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right total knee replacement was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was denied as there is no current evidence of any knee disability, including any complaints of pain. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current bilateral knee disorder and thus could not establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and extension, tenderness over the medial aspect of the joint line, crepitus, x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and subjective complaints of pain with pain on motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, arthritis, on a direct basis or as secondary to the service-connected residuals of fracture of the right malleolus.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection reopening, and other benefits were denied. The Board reopened the PTSD and back disability claims but did not address the merits of these reopenings or any other issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his postoperative right knee with degenerative joint disease and instability was denied. The current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disability.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his torn ligament of the left knee and limitation of motion. The RO found that the current disability rating of 20% adequately reflects the severity of the appellant's symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with representation and documentation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability. The claim of secondary service connection for a right knee disability is addressed in the REMAND portion and is REMANDED to the RO.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the appellant's service-connected left total knee arthroplasty and shell fragment wounds, with a combined rating of 60 percent.