Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disorder is rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable diagnostic codes, for symptoms including pain, stiffness, and functional impairment that affect his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee status post total knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of aggravation during his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left knee and back disorders, as well as whether they are related to his military service. The case must be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted effective October 7, 2008. This award is based on the receipt of a formal application submitted by the Veteran on October 7, 2008.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders. The Veteran is now entitled to a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any knee disorder found to be present.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, dysentery, right eye disability, bilateral foot and knee arthritis, bilateral ankle arthritis, rib disability, left eye disability, hearing loss, PTSD, and malaria have been reopened. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as knee meniscus tear (medial and lateral), degenerative joint disease, and chondromalacia patella, is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran incurred or aggravated his left knee disability during active service or reserve duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating effective January 26, 2007. The Veteran's right knee condition is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a lack of a contemporaneous VA examination, and the need for an updated medical record. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee as a residual of left tibia fracture was denied. The VA examiner found that flexion limited to 120 degrees with pain, but no malunion or nonunion of the tibia and fibula.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, manifested by pain and flexion to no less than 135 degrees without instability or subluxation, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's osteoarthritic changes of the left knee resulted in flexion to at least 100 degrees and extension to 10 degrees, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The current disability does not warrant an increase beyond the existing 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his military service, but a left knee strain was incurred during service and is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The claims of entitlement to higher initial ratings for his right hand scars, left knee conditions, GERD, and thoracic strain are also denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a disorder manifested by left knee pain, which he claims was incurred during active military service. The Board has found the Veteran's account of his injury credible but does not find any claim that left knee symptoms persisted since service is credible.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that his hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability and thus could not be service-connected.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumption period, and the Veteran's arthritis and thumb injury are not presumed to have been incurred in service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative right knee meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability. The Board also finds that his cervical spine and bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.