Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his scar of the left wrist, are denied. The current 10 percent ratings under the appropriate diagnostic codes adequately reflect the severity and symptomatology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, and residuals of a right ankle fracture were denied. The VA determined that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine, right hip, and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found no basis to assign staged ratings as the evidence did not show that a higher rating was warranted for any distinct period(s) of time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and denied his claim for service connection. His initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's combined rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The VA examiner found that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected right knee and right foot disorders, as there is no evidence indicating he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his service or secondary to a service-connected condition, and denied both claims for service connection and an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus and numbness of the feet at a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and left knee chondromalacia patella with subluxation have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and private medical records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his right knee disabilities, and adjudicate his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions did not improve under ordinary conditions of life and work, thus denying the reduction in evaluations for her knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective February 1, 2009. The skin condition has not been assigned a compensable evaluation.

The Board found no current left knee disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of sleep disorder is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is being remanded for further examination and consideration of service connection, including secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia with mild degenerative changes is attributable to service and has been granted service connection. The issue of an increased rating for her right knee disability remains pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his untimely death to his military service or to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability contributed substantially or materially to his death from aspiration pneumonia with congestive heart failure, as evidenced by the testimony of the Veteran's son and the appellant's statements regarding the Veteran's deterioration following his surgery.