Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's right knee scar is tender, especially when bumping or kneeling. The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for old compression fractures of T7, T8, T9, T11, T12, and L1. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's claimed disabilities and concluded that service connection is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and secondary service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a 20% rating for his left ankle disability, but the claims for knee and hip disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left foot and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence to support a direct link between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinion.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between any current bilateral knee or foot disability and the Veteran's active service, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Veteran developed a chronic left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, as a result of service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, a left knee disability, and a bilateral leg disorder. The decision also addressed his claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for flat feet and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as Level III, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For his left knee disability, the Board found that an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's left hip disorder, which required a total arthoplasty, is due to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board finds that the evidence supports service connection for a left hip disorder as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and the issue of residuals, left knee condition, is dismissed as withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) on the basis of the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person, or at the housebound rate.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for osteochondritis of the left knee and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The issue is now on remand to determine if the disability was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection will be reconsidered after the hearing.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as instability or subluxation and impairment of the right knee (other than instability and subluxation), has been rated at 10 percent since August 9, 2006. The RO denied a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left distal femur fracture with limitation of motion of the left knee were not found to warrant a higher rating for the period from June 25, 1999 to May 30, 2005. As of July 1, 2006, his disability was rated at 30 percent due to total knee arthroplasty.