Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they are not related to his active duty service or any recognized chronic condition that manifested within one year of separation from service. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with hammertoes and plantar calluses.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 14, 2009 for the award of a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 and a 100% evaluation for one year (from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010) for right total knee replacement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are aggravated by his service-connected pes planus, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic knee disability in service or for years thereafter, and the Veteran's current knee disabilities are less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as traumatic arthritis with residual instability and pain, did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation from October 19, 2005 to December 3, 2007.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors. The current rating adequately reflects the Veteran's level of disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for various joint disorders. The Board found no evidence of exceptional patterns of hearing impairment and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip, knee, or foot disability that is related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or chronic symptoms.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent, effective from June 22, 2008. The cervical spine disability was also granted a separate initial evaluation of 20 percent for the right lower extremity radiculopathy and another 20 percent for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip, knee and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during or within one year after his military service. The Board also determined that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected hallux valgus of the left foot.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to evaluate his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's alleged in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions had worsened since the last examination.

The Veteran's request for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to his failure to report for the scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after appropriate action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was denied, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus was also denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis with sciatica and right hip degenerative joint disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability.,However, the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel and medical records to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether new and material evidence supports each individual claim. The right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.