Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent disabling, and his right knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent disabling. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a preexisting left knee condition and concluded that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his residuals of a left knee injury with dislocated cartilage, was rated at 20 percent effective December 13, 2011. He also received separate ratings for limitation of flexion and degenerative joint disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for a higher rating of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was not granted. The current service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an increased SMC rate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and entitlement to a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The claim for service connection was previously denied in 1991, but new evidence submitted since then does not establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the left great toe, left leg (other than his left hip), or right knee. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bilateral knee disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and fainting have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal regarding these claims.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on all issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disorders are not service-connected as they did not originate during her active duty or within a year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of pre-existing conditions aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case on the right ankle disability. The issues of service connection for right hip and knee disabilities are also inextricably intertwined with the right ankle claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities warrant a 10 percent disability rating each, as they are manifested by flexion limited to 100 degrees in both knees and extension limited to 8 degrees in the right knee. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteopathy and chondromalacia patella disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5003. The VA examiner found no limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is not service-connected, and his right knee postoperative partial patellectomy rating remains at 20 percent.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to deficiencies in the RO's handling of the Veteran's claim to reopen his compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for residuals of VA treatment for a left knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, migraines, a heart disorder, asthma, and bilateral lung disorder. The issues were remanded multiple times but ultimately remained denied.