Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a hearing before the Board. The claims of service connection for left knee disability as secondary to right knee disability and for an initial compensable rating for right knee disability are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability was permanently aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for his preexisting left knee disorder that has been aggravated during service. The Veteran also has a newly diagnosed left total knee arthroplasty due to the aggravation of his preexisting condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claims for back and knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination to determine the etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's sinusitis with residuals of sinus surgery is now rated at the maximum schedular evaluation (50%) effective December 2, 2011. The other issues remain denied.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current left knee disability to his in-service injuries, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, evaluated as 10 percent disabling from December 1, 2006 through October 27, 2008 and as 30 percent disabling beginning on December 1, 2009, did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation during this period.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 60 percent since June 1, 2010. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as the maximum schedular rating for residuals of knee replacement is 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability is directly related to service, and his left knee and right knee disabilities are secondary to his left ankle disability. The appeal for a right ankle disability was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the feet, right knee, left knee, and hands/tarsal tunnel syndrome. The appeal was also denied regarding whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for Reiter's syndrome, paranoid schizophrenia, and a low back injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, headaches, and left foot disability as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his TDIU benefit, arguing he was unable to work due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 24, 2010. The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to suggest the Veteran may have been unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee instability and arthritis were not found to warrant ratings in excess of the 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her pre-service conditions and their progression during service.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions was 50 percent prior to June 20, 2008. The Director of Compensation and Pension found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD and Right Knee Disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's joint pain is attributed to pre-existing conditions and not due to service. Service connection for the claimed disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's DJD, status post right total knee arthroplasty is currently rated at 60 percent and the Director of Compensation Service denied an extra-schedular rating.