Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and bilateral knee disorders are rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right knee injury is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, but did not provide an opinion on whether he is entitled to service connection for bilateral knee or hip disabilities as secondary to his back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder were denied service connection, with the Board finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to service. The Veteran's current rating for his right knee disorder is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for right knee degenerative joint disease and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his military service records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including another VA examination to determine the etiology of his left knee and left ankle disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, and have denied both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity disabilities. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis, instability, dislocated cartilage, or impairment of the tibia and fibula.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss was caused by service, including significant noise exposure during her military career.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left knee arthritis and service connection for presbyopia were granted, with the left knee arthritis rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The initial evaluations for the claimed conditions are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability of the left knee and no credible evidence linking any such disability to service. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee strain with arthritis, and lumbosacral arthritis and sacroiliac dysfunction with right radiculopathy were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's myofascial pain syndrome and left knee disability are not related to service, and his psychiatric disorder is not shown to be due to service. Therefore, these claims have been denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, a bilateral knee disorder, a female internal organ disorder, and incontinence prior to the Board's decision.

The Board is remanding the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence linking his service-connected knee disabilities to his terminal conditions. The appellant must provide additional medical evidence to support her claim.