Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that no new and material evidence had been received. The issue of special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance was also addressed but the Veteran did not meet the criteria as he required assistance with daily activities due to his physical conditions but was not bedridden or hospitalized.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his lumbar spine disability was denied. The right knee sprain with degenerative joint disease prior to May 26, 2010 is rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee degenerative joint disease prior to May 26, 2010 is granted. Increased ratings for left knee disability are denied. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement has been rated at 60 percent since May 1, 2002. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether her non-service-connected back disability is aggravated by her service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim was also raised due to changes in employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that his claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's incarceration and the need for additional treatment records from his correctional facility.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee was rated at 20 percent, while his Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome of the left knee, status post ligament repair, remained at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts made to obtain service treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a TBI, finding that the Veteran's self-reported motor vehicle accident during active duty is credible and linked to his current symptoms. The remaining claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim. However, there is no competent medical evidence of record showing a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence of a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and a more complete statement of reasons and bases for its decision regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left hip and knee.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims for middle spine and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disorder related to his service or service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder. These conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities and an opinion regarding whether he is precluded from obtaining substantial gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within the presumptive period for arthritis. The claim for secondary service connection for the right knee disability based on a pre-existing left knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, which includes a tear of the medial meniscus and post-arthroscopic repair, is entitled to a 100% evaluation for one year following the partial knee replacement on January 31, 2008.