Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right shoulder strain and left knee strain from July 10, 2010 was denied. The claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right knee chondromalacia was denied as her symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and requests for updated medical records. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries were not incurred in line of duty, and therefore service connection for the claimed conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for new VA examinations and additional development of the claims file.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to her military service, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by her service-connected leg stress fractures and/or her currently diagnosed RA. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request, and will not make a decision on the merits until after this hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues include seeking higher ratings for his knee conditions and TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, which he claims are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain treatment records and determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for DJD of the left knee as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a reevaluation of his service connection and rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and therefore the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and recurrent parotitis. The denial is based on the lack of current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is currently rated at 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5262. His hypertension has not been found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since March 1999. Throughout the appeal period, his symptoms have included subjective complaints of pain, weakness, and instability, with objective findings showing extension to 0 degrees and flexion limited to no more than 60 degrees by pain and repetition. The Veteran's right knee disability has not warranted a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and new and material evidence claims for various disabilities. The Veteran's file was reviewed by a VA podiatrist to determine the relationship between his current bilateral plantar fasciitis and heel complaints in service.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the thoracolumbar disability rating was improper and void ab initio, while denying increased ratings for headaches and a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right knee instability before April 5, 2007 was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of instability prior to this date based on the objective findings from VA examinations.