Knee decisions — 2011

The Board found that the currently assigned 60 percent rating for post total replacement right knee disability is adequate and denied an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities has been granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for traumatic arthritis of the right knee effective September 16, 2010.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a neurological disorder of the left upper extremity, secondary to her service-connected cervical intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board has determined that further development is needed in order to make an informed decision on these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding her migraine headaches and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the left knee. The case must be remanded to afford the Veteran a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical examination to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are caused or aggravated by the service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and assigned a noncompensable rating effective July 18, 1997. The Veteran's appeal is now limited to seeking an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities were granted, with the effective date being from the date of the July 2004 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to a violation of the Veteran's due process rights.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include as secondary to bilateral knee disorders. However, additional development is needed including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and increased ratings for hypertension and bursitis of the right elbow. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the claim of a current bilateral knee disability being related to service, and the other issues were also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for various conditions, including left elbow tendonitis and arthritis of the right hand, left hand other than the left ring finger PIP joint, right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder. The issues were decided as direct service connection cases.

The case is REMANDED to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and for compensable evaluations for hemorrhoids, lumbar spine disability, fractured mandible, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The Board found no current diagnosed left knee disorder.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder on either direct or secondary basis. However, since the decision, two medical opinions have linked the Veteran's right knee disorder to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder and hypertension were not incurred in or related to service.,The Veteran's left knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia have been rated at the minimum compensable level of 10 percent each. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and COPD have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his hearing loss and tinnitus.