Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right ankle arthritis has been granted, with the effective date being November 2000.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current left shoulder and left knee conditions, including whether they are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for left knee medial meniscus tear and right knee tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus due to in-service onset and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's increased ratings for his radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, internal derangement of the left knee, and lumbosacral strain with X-ray evidence of narrowing at L5-S1 and degenerative disc disease.

The Board has vacated its previous decisions and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right ankle disability, sleep disability, and right knee disability due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for a left heel disability prior to April 15, 2008 was granted. Beginning on April 15, 2008, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent evaluation for his left heel disability. The Veteran's left knee disability has not been assigned an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is rated at 20 percent from October 15, 1998 and residuals of ligament tears are rated as 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The claim for increased ratings remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current tinnitus to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful motion and functional limitation equivalent to flexion limited to less than 15 degrees, is currently rated at 20 percent. He also has instability or subluxation of the right knee, which more nearly approximates slight.

The Veteran's left knee disability is manifested by no more than slight instability with noncompensable limitation of motion on both flexion and extension, and objective evidence of painful motion throughout the appeal period. X-ray evidence demonstrates degenerative arthritis of the left knee. There is no evidence of malunion or nonunion of the left tibia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including gathering of outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling of examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his bilateral knee disorders has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal with respect to the issue of an increased rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The claims will be remanded for such development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The issue of whether the Veteran's current left knee condition is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been presented. The Veteran's right hip, shoulder, sleep apnea, and knee conditions are still under review.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including instability of the knees, are currently evaluated at 10 percent each. The claims for increased evaluations have been denied as his flexion and instability do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and its secondary disabilities, including amputation of the left leg, based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active duty in Korea.

The Veteran's left elbow, left ring finger, skin, left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities have been rated as noncompensable or 10 percent prior to July 19, 2011. Effective July 19, 2011, the ratings for left elbow and left knee disabilities were increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for an additional VA examination.