Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right knee strain and right shoulder strain have been denied. The RO has granted the earliest possible effective dates for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence shows no chronicity of symptoms since service and there is no medical opinion linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's left knee laxity and chondromalacia have been rated at 10 percent each, effective September 16, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disability due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and inpatient treatment records from the Naval Hospital on Parris Island. The case will also be adjudicated again after these developments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disorder was aggravated by injury during Active Duty for Training (ADT), and his bilateral hearing loss may be service-connected. The case is remanded to determine a specific effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and scars, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the clinical evidence.

The Board found that left leg radiculopathy was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The right knee disorder and testicular disorder issues were also addressed, but the decision is unclear on whether they were granted or denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his ability to perform sedentary employment and the presence of other nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's current cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are not related to his service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee and left knee, finding that flexion is limited to 125 degrees by pain.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is not manifested by recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, limitation of flexion to 30 degrees, or extension limited to at least 10 degrees. Therefore, the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disorder have not been met.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities and a bilateral eye disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining STRs and private medical records to determine the cause of his right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional VA records and information from providers.

The Veteran's right knee lateral instability has been rated at 20 percent since March 12, 2008. The Board found that the disability more nearly approximated moderate recurrent lateral instability.

The Board found no evidence of a back injury or disease in service, and the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is unrelated to his military service. The same was true for his right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.