Knee Board decisions

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The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and therefore the case is dismissed.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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders. The claims are now considered substantiated.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease was denied, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU were also denied.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left knee disorders had their onset during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for increased ratings and initial rating claims for left knee conditions. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right kidney mass, and diabetes mellitus, type II. However, it found that new and material evidence had not been submitted sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for higher evaluations for depression and right knee condition was denied. The Veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent, while his right knee condition is rated at 10 percent.