Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, with an effective date of August 29, 2003. The current evaluation is 10 percent for limitation of flexion and extension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records. The Veteran is seeking secondary service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his military service or any event therein, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disorder, which he claims is related to his military service. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing. A new hearing will be scheduled at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted for sinusitis, left knee disability, paresthesia of the lower extremities, De Quervain's syndrome of the right upper extremity, or costochondritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, status post-total knee replacement cannot be decided without additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing osteoarthritis of the right knee was aggravated by his period of ACDUTRA service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be reconsidered in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current low back disorder and bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral fallen arches, left knee tendonitis, right knee tendonitis, or GERD.

The Veteran's knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 2, 2008 and at 30 percent from July 1, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right knee disability, including consideration of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision. The case is being remanded to allow the RO to consider these issues.

The Veteran's residuals of a left knee injury are currently rated at 20 percent from June 26, 2007 to August 23, 2010. The disability is characterized by moderately severe internal derangement and evidence of arthritis with noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disorder is more likely than not related to his service, including multiple injuries sustained in service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right hip, left hip, low back, and right knee disorders. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of these conditions and whether they are related to his honorable period of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sensitive feet, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, weight gain, sleep disorder, and psychiatric disorder (change in character) as secondary to weight gain are all granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is reopened but not decided on the merits.

The Veteran's claim for permanent and total rating for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for separate compensable ratings for instability of the right and left knees are denied as there is no evidence of instability in either knee during the appeal period.