Knee decisions — 2012

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected. The Board has dismissed the appeals as to issues of vision disability, increased ratings for TBI, PTSD, and headaches.

The Veteran's right knee impairment was previously rated at 20 percent, effective August 9, 2006. The RO reduced the rating to 10 percent effective December 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical evidence and arrange for a VA examination of the Veteran's right knee. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and additional development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee scar and bilateral pes planus have been rated as noncompensable prior to the specified effective dates. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of arthritis or kidney stones during the Veteran's honorable service period. As such, her claims for these conditions are denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disorders was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for arthritis of the right knee or for a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that a right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and is not related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities due to the lack of current disability. The Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for elbow tendonitis are pending.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining a VA nexus opinion and addressing lay statements from the Veteran and his fellow servicemen regarding right knee problems in service. The Veteran's current right knee disability will be evaluated based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent prior to April 27, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and lumbosacral spine disorder. The evidence does not show a current disability in these areas.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 23, 2006. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to his range of motion limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to February 18, 2009. The claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 (based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities) prior to December 2, 2008 was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of both knees and ankles is not service connected, as there is no evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The claim for secondary service connection due to diabetes mellitus is also denied.