Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right knee disorder are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability prior to February 8, 2010 was denied as the evidence did not show flexion or extension limitation that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete development of his lupus and knee claims, including the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for additional examination. The appellant's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals, left knee injury traumatic synovitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a third VLJ who will participate in the panel decision on whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for disabilities of the bilateral knees and left ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and she is therefore entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The case will be reviewed again after additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left knee disabilities has been denied. He is currently rated 20% for instability, 10% for limitation of flexion prior to July 29, 2011, and 0% for limitation of extension after that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is productive of pain and swelling which limits flexion to 110 degrees and limits extension to 3 degrees; there is no recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The Board finds the evidence does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and chronic lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Board determined that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee and hip disabilities are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board found that the reduction in the disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability from 50% to 20% was not proper, as there was no evidence of material improvement in his condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current clinical diagnosis of PTSD. The right knee osteoarthritis was also found to be unrelated to service.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeals on the issues of service connection for tinnitus, increased evaluation for left knee disability, and increased evaluation for PTSD prior to June 5, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that they are proximately due to or the result of a service-connected bipolar disorder. The left knee disability is not addressed as it was not on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and verifying a stressor event.