Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and residuals of shrapnel wounds as they are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left knee disabilities are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and found that his discharge from service was under conditions other than honorable, thus denying VA benefits. The Board also determined that there is no evidence of arthritis or any other condition related to his first period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and bilateral hip disorders are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected post-operative thoracic spine disorder. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's status-post total right hip arthroplasty (arthritis) is service-connected, and he also has a current diagnosis of right knee strain. The claim for secondary service connection for right knee disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pulmonary embolism was secondary to her service-connected deep vein thrombosis, left knee.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for loss of use of both feet was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there is no evidence showing permanent loss or use of one or both feet due to knee instability.,The grant of automobile and adaptive equipment benefits were also deemed clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of arthritis of the bilateral knees, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, an eye condition, residuals of a shoulder injury, and fibromyalgia. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for pes planus is also dismissed.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and service personnel file, which may provide information relevant to the Veteran's right knee condition. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for tuberculosis, knee disability, and hearing loss. The claim to reopen service connection for residuals of a head injury and cyst on the brain was denied. The claim to reopen service connection for fungus on the fingernails and toenails was granted. The claim to reopen service connection for shin splints and heel spurs was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis was shown to have been manifested throughout the entire one-year period prior to his March 20, 2006 claim for an increased rating. Therefore, the effective date of the award of a separate 10 percent rating for left knee arthritis is determined to be March 20, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine arthritis and left knee medial meniscus tear have been rated at the maximum available rating of 40 percent. The right knee DJD claim was granted, but no increased rating has been awarded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a vocational examination to evaluate the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the appellant's right knee disorder existed prior to his period of active duty for training in July 1966 or resulted from an injury while shoveling dirt in July 1966.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to a pre-existing injury during active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylolysis and strain with dextroscoliosis, left knee DJD with PFS, right knee DJD with PFS, allergic rhinitis, and hemorrhoids have been granted initial evaluations. The lumbar condition received a noncompensable evaluation prior to June 25, 2008, and a 10 percent evaluation from that date forward. The left and right knee conditions each received a 10 percent evaluation effective May 1, 2006. Allergic rhinitis was assigned a noncompensable evaluation, while hemorrhoids were given a noncompensable evaluation.