Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a new examination of his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, a left knee disability, and a skin disability manifested by blisters of the feet and bunions of the toes were denied as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has been notified of the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal and therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed back and knee disorders.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his left knee disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the current ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his knee disabilities, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability of each knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service. The current conditions are not linked to any service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and assigned a 20% evaluation effective May 29, 2009. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date but was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee resulted in painful motion and slight instability, which were rated at a 10 percent disability effective from August 15, 2011.

The Veteran's right knee disability was characterized by flexion to 140 degrees and extension of 0 degrees, without recurrent subluxation or instability. From June 20, 2012, the Veteran's right knee disability was characterized by flexion greater than 90 degrees and extension of 0 degrees, with dislocation of semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion, and with slight instability of the knee. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for any period.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder, as the previous opinion was inadequate for evaluation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability, the etiology of his lumbar spine disorder, and the nature and etiology of his claimed left foot gout.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations and updating medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease did not meet criteria for a higher rating, and his hearing loss was not shown to be incurred or presumed due to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee and low back disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease was granted. The RO reduced the rating from 40 to 30 percent effective July 1, 2008, and the Veteran is seeking restoration of the original rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a video conference hearing at an Oakland RO facility.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus the claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability cannot be reopened.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his service or service-connected left knee disorder, and thus denied his claims for service connection.