Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of a compensable degree of disability under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which included chondromalacia and arthritis, was rated at 20 percent effective March 31, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates was denied as his application for benefits was received by VA on January 18, 2007, which is the date he contacted the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) office. The one-year deadline for filing a claim after separation from service has expired.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disorder and granted it. The Veteran's right hip disability is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The TDIU issue will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, has been rated at 30 percent since March 1, 2007 following total knee replacement. The rating is based on the current functional limitations of the knee.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and nervous tremors remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they related to any injury sustained in service. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is service-connected.,His tinea versicolor residuals were rated at 0 percent prior to April 16, 2009 and at 30 percent since then.

The Veteran's right knee disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to September 1, 2011, and 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about the Veteran's employment history and educational background, as well as a vocational rehabilitation specialist opinion regarding his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment despite his knee disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration if necessary.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 9, 2006 for his TDIU was denied. The Board found that the earliest date he met the requirements for a TDIU was May 22, 2000.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her right knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as any diagnosed hip disorder. The case will also be reviewed by the Director, Compensation & Pension Service, for extraschedular consideration of a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and issuance of a statement of the case regarding the earlier effective date issue.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of her claimed knee disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right lower extremity disorders including a right hip, knee, and foot disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board finds that the evidence raises medical questions pertinent to determining whether these conditions may have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee pathology.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Board found that these conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection was also granted for degenerative joint disease of the left knee due to its onset during active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeal.