Knee decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left elbow and knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disorder was denied. A separate 20 percent rating for instability prior to May 10, 2011 was granted, but a new evaluation for instability beginning on that date was denied.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for musculoligamentous strain of the right knee from May 27, 2011, to present is granted at a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's cause of death, sepsis due to a perforated cecum caused by metastatic cancer, is not service-connected as the lung cancer did not have its onset during his military service and was not related to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and anterior cruciate ligament tears have been rated at 20 percent since June 24, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are related to his service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for PTSD, tinnitus, or hearing loss. Service connection was not established for COPD, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, or degenerative changes in the right knee.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, chronic labyrinthitis, pansinusitis, headache disability, low back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's claims are pending with the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience, effective December 6, 2011.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 1, 2005, is denied as the emergency treatment was not provided in response to a condition that would have been hazardous if delayed.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee with painful motion and a separate 20 percent rating for status post medial meniscectomy of the left knee, both effective from May 21, 1996. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to service or his right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disability and increased evaluations for DJD of his knees, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine, lumbar spine, or right knee disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities due to lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions were aggravated by military service or preexisted service.