Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The case is REMANDED for a VA orthopedic examination and additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and other medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and service treatment records from 1994 and 1997.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his appeal on the issue of increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis was dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, which includes arthritis with discomfort at extremes of motion, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to missing separation examination and failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as strain, is manifested by pain and limited range of motion. The VA examiner found no objective evidence of a right knee condition during the February 2007 examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee arthritis has been confirmed by x-rays and has been manifested by complaints of pain on motion with limited extension. The current disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine her ability to work due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as chondrocalcinosis with instability and degenerative joint disease, was granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent effective from the date of his claim. A separate 10 percent evaluation for limitation of extension was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disorder was also found to be less likely than not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the issue of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for higher initial disability ratings and service connection claims. The issues of PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left leg radiculopathy, right knee degenerative joint disease, tinea corpora, premature ejaculation disorder (secondary to PTSD), and dyspepsia (secondary to PTSD) were all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, left knee disorder, neck disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the arthritis of the right knee did not have a service connection and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and hypertension was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating prior to April 3, 2007.