Knee decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no competent medical evidence of current diagnoses or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the Roanoke RO.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings on multiple service-connected conditions were denied. The VA examinations and medical records did not support the requested increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's current disabilities were found not to be related to his military service, and he was awarded a 20% disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease beginning October 9, 2007.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are found to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left knee condition is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a low back or left knee disability during service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to be related to his active duty. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions, except for post-bronchodilator FEV-1/FVC results.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's disability rating for status post left total knee arthroplasty was reduced from 60 percent to 30 percent, effective August 1, 2006. The RO found that the evidence did not reflect an improvement in his condition.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids (claimed as anal fissures), neck disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for postoperative residuals of a right knee meniscectomy and right hip osteoarthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation greater than 20 percent for the right knee, and did not meet the criteria for an evaluation greater than 10 percent for the right hip.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for further examination regarding cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a right knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee condition had onset in active service and is etiologically related to his active service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met, granting the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is being remanded due to the lack of pre-service medical records and potential issues with determining if his current condition was caused by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The non-treatment claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation due to the lack of limitation of flexion or extension that would warrant an additional compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted, and his anal fissures are rated at 60 percent effective January 14, 2008. The issue of increased rating for tinea versicolor prior to August 30, 2002 remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a head injury, left hip arthritis, left ankle arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The RO granted these conditions effective October 28, 2005.