Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has determined that an extraschedular rating is not warranted for the disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent since August 17, 1994 and granted a separate initial rating of 30 percent for limitation of extension from March 24, 2009 to September 30, 2009. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, finding no evidence of current disability and noting that the Veteran's symptoms resolved without residual issues.

The Board found no current competent evidence of deviated nasal septum, bilateral knee disability, or low back disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred in service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to further development of evidence being required before adjudicating his pending claim for an increased disability evaluation for his right knee necrotizing fasciitis and his claim of entitlement to service connection for nerve damage of the right knee.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including VA examinations and the provision of updated medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right foot condition, initial compensable evaluations for service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and service-connected right ankle strain, and an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bursitis of the right hip.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection and initial evaluations for various disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for status as a former prisoner of war, service connection for posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee and nutritional disorders, and malaria. The appeal for non-service-connected disability pension was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and tinnitus have been granted, but the initial ratings for both conditions are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left earache with tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle fracture, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or continuity of symptoms related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities were denied by the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected genu recurvatum, right knee, and arthritis, right knee, are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis, severe instability, flexion limited to 15 degrees, extension limited to 20 degrees, or malunion of the tibia and fibula with marked knee or ankle disability in his right knee. His left knee osteoarthritis was considered as a primary condition rather than secondary to his service-connected right knee injury.

The Veteran's left knee disability is manifested by flexion ranging from 120 to 140 degrees and moderate instability, warranting a separate 20 percent evaluation for moderate instability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.