Knee decisions — 2010

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information regarding his military service dates. The appeal is now pending and will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of lay statements and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of moderate instability or additional functional impairment during flare-ups, and thus an increase in rating under Diagnostic Code 5257 is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for internal hemorrhoids, right knee disability, pes planus, lumbar strain, and arthralgia of the hands and fingers due to lack of a current diagnosis or chronic condition during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions and service connection for hip disabilities were denied. The reduction in rating for chronic lumbar strain was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and cold injury residuals of bilateral hands. The claim for service connection for hypertension is not reopened. Service connection decisions have been made on some issues but are pending in the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination for obesity. The claims will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective October 19, 2006. The maximum schedular rating of 50 percent is not warranted as the evidence does not meet the criteria for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 19, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection based on receipt of new and material evidence, but will remand the underlying de novo issue for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that he meets the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and recurrent tinnitus. However, further development is needed as VA's duty to assist has not been fully met.

The Board denied increased initial ratings for a right ankle disability and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral calluses of the feet. The claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus were not adjudicated.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella is currently manifested by flexion to 130 degrees and extension to 0 degrees, with complaints of pain. There is no objective evidence of instability in the knee.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of 30 percent for right knee instability (residual of a meniscectomy) and 10 percent for left knee arthralgia. The claim for a separate compensable evaluation for a right knee surgical scar is REMANDED.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied his claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by back pain and remanded his claims for bilateral knee pain. The case is now being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of his private treatment records and the need for VA examinations.