Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination and additional medical records. The case will be returned to the Board after this process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by no other impairment than flexion with pain most nearly approximating 45 degrees, which warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5260. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and verifying his periods of active duty, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve service. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee and right elbow disabilities was denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory condition were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, osteoarthritis of the left acromioclavicular joint, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected and was not caused by his service-connected knee disabilities.,Right knee disability rated at 10%.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which included a meniscectomy and posttraumatic degenerative changes, was rated at 10 percent prior to March 25, 2010. After that date, the rating was increased to 40 percent.

The Board found that the right wrist and left knee disabilities are not related to service, with no indication of a severe injury in service. The appellant's long-term work as a golf professional is considered more likely to have contributed to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records from Bloomington Bone and Joint Clinic. The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected appendectomy scar and left knee disability were evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective from January 20, 2006. The current rating remains at 10 percent after October 7, 2010.

The Board found that the appellant's right knee injury was pre-existing and not aggravated by his service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions for the Veteran's claimed conditions, as well as to ensure all relevant records are obtained.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for a left hip disability and low back disability. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus and the etiology of his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, or a bilateral knee disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a cognitive disorder as one of the residuals of TBI sustained in service. The Veteran's TBI is related to an accidental explosion during active duty.