Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, left foot plantar fasciitis, and a left knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's scar, residual of left knee ACL repair, is not found to be disabling and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-surgical residuals of a meniscus injury, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects her symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Board hearing. The issues include increased ratings and service connection for knee disabilities.

The Veteran's scars from breast reduction surgery and her right knee arthritis are service-connected, with the scars receiving a single 10% rating. The Veteran is also entitled to a temporary total disability evaluation for one month following her January 28, 2009 right knee arthroscopic patellar chondroplasty.

The Board has remanded the appeal for service connection for residuals of a bilateral ankle disorder and residuals of a bilateral knee disorder due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA medical records from March 2009 to the present.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a hearing issue, and the Veteran is scheduled for another videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, and the Board finds that they do not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder and hypogonadism are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no evidence of a nexus to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of either knee or right ankle, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability attributable to active duty service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for reopening the claims of service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder, to include as secondary to peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for each knee disability, with limitations in motion and instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as degenerative joint disease with a history of partial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The VA examiner noted painful and limited motion, slight recurrent subluxation and instability, and tenderness in the knee.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and ankle disabilities due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the reduction in the assigned rating from 50 to 30 percent for a right knee disability was not proper. The Veteran's right knee disability resulted in chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion, and he has been unable to secure substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disability since March 11, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of polyarthralgia (arthritis or joint pain) and asthma are not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support a connection between these conditions and her military service.