Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, which were not previously reviewed. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chondromalacia of bilateral knees was denied as there is no competent evidence to support a relationship between the current condition and his military service. The Veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination, which prevented VA from determining whether there is a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease and left knee DJD. After reviewing all available evidence, including VA treatment records and VA examinations, the Board finds that these conditions are directly related to service due to complaints of pain during service and current x-ray findings showing arthritis in both knees.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left knee disability was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. Service connection claims for right knee and back disabilities were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of shin splints, right knee disability, residuals of a broken nose, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and finds that there is new and material evidence to support this claim. The Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to her in-service injury during active duty for training in January 1987.

The Veteran's residuals of a right knee injury, status post ACL reconstruction surgery, are related to his service and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an incomplete VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee arthritis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee and foot disorders were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of the disabilities.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his left knee conditions, bilateral metatarsalgia, and mechanical low back strain with degenerative lumbar spondylosis have been granted. His hepatitis has also been rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of osteoarthritis of the knees was denied. For his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the hands and wrists, he is granted a 10% rating for each hand and wrist, but not higher.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, conducting new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, and determining whether he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and left knee disability was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his request for a hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for extension of a temporary total rating beyond April 30, 2012 and service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The right knee disorder was granted based on secondary service connection to the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a video hearing. The issues on appeal include service connection claims and reopening of previous claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left shoulder, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining STRs, VA treatment records, and a VA examination.