Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the reduction of his left knee disability rating was found to be improper. The Veteran did not have new and material evidence submitted to reopen several of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been partially granted, with some issues being granted while others are denied. The right knee disorder claim has been reopened but the merits of the reopened claim remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination of the right knee. The issue will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and consideration of all service-connected disabilities in determining employability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for instability and no higher. A separate rating of 10 percent based on limitation of motion has been granted, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to functional loss.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound of the right popliteal fossa and associated arthritis have been found to directly lead to his need for a total hip replacement, which is granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple issues, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, pain, uveitis, ankle disability, knee disability, hand disability, and fractures of the ribs. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent for osteoporosis of the right knee secondary to the left knee disability. The left knee instability issue remains unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and any residuals from cellulitis. Service connection will be considered based on the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for the left knee disorder are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues involving left knee disabilities, including entitlement to increased evaluations and an earlier effective date. The Veteran's workman's compensation records are also requested for review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hiatal hernia with GERD and bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, low back condition, and bilateral pes planus. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability. It also determined that bilateral pes planus preexisted service and did not increase in severity during service. Finally, it concluded that a low back disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disorder and the Veteran's right hip disorder is not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling conflict for his Travel Board hearing. The claims are now pending and will be rescheduled.