Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities have been denied. The left knee and right knee conditions are not currently manifested by the severity of disability that would warrant higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining relevant treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and VCAA compliance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for torsion of the left testis, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher initial ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee recurrent lateral instability and arthritis, as well as a separate rating for his left knee disability characterized by removal of symptomatic, semilunar, dislocated cartilage, were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted it, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss was aggravated by his active duty in Iraq. The left knee disability claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on a need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including heart disease with coronary artery disease and moderate to severe heart failure. He also qualifies for housebound benefits as he is over 65 years old and has multiple service-connected conditions that independently rate at or above 60 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current degenerative joint disease is more likely due to aging rather than an in-service injury. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty, is proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and whether a separate evaluation is warranted for arthritis. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his service-connected arthritis of the right hip was also granted a 30 percent rating. The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's shin splints and chondromalacia of the knees have been granted service connection, but no specific ratings were assigned as the criteria for a compensable evaluation are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral retropatellar syndrome, left knee retropatellar syndrome with genu valgus, and right knee retropatellar syndrome with genu valgus have not met or more nearly approximated criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent since December 26, 2008.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and there is no evidence that any service-connected disability contributed to his death. The Board denies the claim for service connection for the cause of death.