Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding records and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee injury, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation or service connection for his right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination and additional development of the record.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn, thus these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's seronegative rheumatoid arthritis has not been active, and his current joint pains are attributable to non-service connected causes.,PTSD is manifested by flattened affect, impairment of short-term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee scar, and GERD were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities that would warrant a grant of service connection or an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, provide the Veteran with an opportunity to identify his in-service stressors, and schedule him for VA examinations to address the etiology of his left knee disability, gastrointestinal disability, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and congestive heart failure were denied as service connection was not established.,Service connection for degenerative disease of the left knee and mild degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine (secondary to left knee) have been granted.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for the service-connected DJD of the left knee from 50 percent to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2009, was proper.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and assistance of others for dressing, undressing and sometimes bathing. As a result, SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including DJD, is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds no legal basis for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for all periods considered, thus denying his claim for NSC pension benefits.

The Board has found that the appellant's right knee arthritis, status post arthroscopy, was incurred in active duty for training and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back disorders were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they related to any incident of service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, increased ratings for degenerative disc disease with herniated disc at L3-4 and L4-5, right leg radiculopathy, and left L4 radiculopathy have been denied. The Veteran's current left knee disability is not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left hip disability separate from the service-connected radiculitis and sciatica of the lower extremities. The Veteran's complaints of bilateral hip pain were attributed to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU.