Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for familial polyposis and a right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of his claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board's May 2009 decision and remand order is vacated due to the Veteran's death in July 2007, and the appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees have been denied as there is no evidence that the disabilities meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and a chronic left knee disability are being remanded due to the receipt of additional medical evidence. The VA will conduct further examinations and determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at his RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes cavus and denied his claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes cavus. The Veteran is also not entitled to a new rating for post-polio syndrome.

The Board is remanding the case to provide proper VCAA notice and to readjudicate the claims of reopening service connection for left knee disability and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders have not been substantiated by new and material evidence, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's combined rating for all service-connected disabilities is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that the Veteran is currently employed as a full-time computer technician and is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed knee and ankle disorders are related to service or his postoperative bilateral third hammertoe disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, and his claim for service connection of actinic keratoses and skin cancer was also denied.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches, effective from November 3, 2004. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include bipolar disorder), seizure disorder, a right knee disability, and fibromyalgia are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a missing VA examination report.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a left knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as noncompensably disabling, but is now rated at 10 percent.,For the period prior to May 21, 2008, her migraine headaches have been rated as 10 percent disabling. Since then, they are rated as 30 percent disabling.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since June 1, 2005. Her left knee disability is also rated at 10 percent since that date.,For the cervical spine arthritis, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his claim for an increased rating has been denied. The Veteran's pulmonary calcified granulomas are not productive of any lung symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his ability to require assistance.