Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees and cervical spine. The RO denied these claims in May 2001, finding no indication of arthritis within one year following service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to his service-connected left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities. The decision is considered final.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, environmental allergies, and lung disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show instability or additional disability beyond arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee, ankle, and low back disabilities. The claim for a higher rating for the low back disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and/or cervical spine disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the functional limitations of his lumbar spine, right shoulder and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the right knee did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral knee disability and its relationship to service-connected left ankle with traumatic arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date set at September 30, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of October 31, 2006. He also received TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from SSA and VA.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities, including as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant medical records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, lumbar spine, and knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by no more than slight instability, and her rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran requested a hearing but failed to appear, and his representative requested rescheduling due to communication issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the current severity of his service-connected low back disability, as well as whether a bilateral hip disability and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are related to or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The case will also be reviewed to determine if he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease and meniscus tear have been rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on current clinical findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is likely related to a period of Active Duty for Special Work (ADSW) in February 1991.,The Veteran's preexisting left knee degenerative arthritis is presumed to have been aggravated by service ending in November 2004.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to issues with obtaining SSA records and VA examinations, as well as other procedural matters.