Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left knee and right ankle disabilities have been granted, with the right ankle receiving a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability is denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee meniscus repair.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VCAA notice and a VA examination for his right ankle disability. The claims will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and ring finger disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities.,For PTSD, the Veteran is rated at 50 percent since April 2007, with no higher evaluation granted.

The Veteran's death was due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and knee replacements. The appellant is entitled to accrued benefits for a TDIU based on the Veteran's pending claim at the time of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease and an extra-schedular evaluation of 60 percent for right knee traumatic synovitis with incoordination secondary to pain from February 17, 1998, to December 29, 2002. The decision is mixed as it grants service connection but denies the request for a higher schedular rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the claim of new and material evidence was reopened. The rating for chronic pain syndrome with disc bulging at L4-5 was not granted higher than 10 percent before October 28, 2006, but a 30 percent rating was granted from that date onwards. Other claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain with DDD and DJD of the left knee, as well as service connection for hypertension. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis and bilateral hip arthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right total knee replacement did not meet the criteria for a schedular rating greater than 60 percent from July 1, 2007, through March 27, 2011.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as it relates to his service. The examiner is instructed not to provide an opinion on aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, Hepatitis C, and an increased rating for his service-connected pes planus. The appeal regarding the temporary total disability rating based on hospitalization in August 2005 was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's statements regarding in-service injuries are not credible. The current left knee arthritis is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination to determine if any current left knee disorder is etiologically-related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and to determine if he has a current sleep disorder related to service.