Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to painful motion. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a flexion limitation of at least 45 degrees or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 14, 2010 did not preclude him from all forms of gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The right knee, left knee, thoracolumbar spine, and hip disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining missing service treatment records and conducting appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service injury.,Service connection for depressive disorder, NOS was granted with an effective date of December 14, 2010. The Veteran did not file a claim prior to this date.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a right knee disability, a right great toe disability, and coronary artery disease with hypertension. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg pain, right knee pain, right shoulder pain, wrist pain, left hip pain, and right hip pain have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The claim for service connection for left elbow disorder is reopened.,Service connection for lumbosacral arthritis, left knee arthralgia, left shoulder osteoarthritis, foot (toe) osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus II, and hearing loss in the left ear have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right shoulder, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to incomplete or speculative medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea) and hypertension. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition is reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The claims for right knee osteoarthritis with knee replacement are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, left leg disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Board denied payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded for a TDIU, as the relevant notice of disagreement was filed before June 19, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, left and right shoulder disabilities, and thoracolumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, and sleep apnea has been granted. The claims for left and right knee disabilities have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for right thumb condition and bilateral knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to a secondary service connection claim for a seizure disorder. The SMC appeal will be reconsidered after addressing the service connection issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking restoration of a 30 percent rating for service-connected residuals, unicompartmental arthroplasty with degenerative arthritis, left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right knee degenerative joint disease, right elbow degenerative joint disease, and left elbow degenerative joint disease are being remanded for further examination due to increased symptomatology.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, post total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has found that additional development is necessary due to the lack of adequate information regarding flare-ups and ankylosis.