Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee instability did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent throughout the appeal period, as he was already receiving the maximum schedular disability rating for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current right knee, left knee, or back disabilities related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions. The Veteran's claim for residuals of dental trauma for outpatient dental treatment was also denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his claimed condition and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and to obtain relevant medical records. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Hawaii and New Hampshire. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee arthritis, as manifested by X-ray findings of osteoarthritis, pain, swelling, full extension, and limitation of flexion to no less than 80 degrees, does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active service, including a single incident where he fell from a truck during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disorders are due to service, while his left knee disorder is a result of his right knee disability. The Veteran's preexisting right knee condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain, knee disabilities, and bilateral pes planus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VCAA notice regarding secondary service connection. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral wrist and knee disorders did not originate in service or as a result of service, nor may arthritis of either wrist or knee be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including residuals of meniscectomy and arthritis, was rated at 20 percent prior to August 12, 2009. A separate rating for arthritis with limitation of extension was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's aortic stenosis was aggravated during his initial period of active military service and is therefore granted service connection. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish chronic left knee disorder as being incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA joint examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current leg disorders.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee disabilities was denied. The effective dates for the awards were not earlier than January 7, 2005.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the rating decisions made by the RO in May 1968, as the evidence at that time did not support a higher disability rating for the Veteran's shrapnel wounds.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, prostate disorder, arthritis of major joints other than the knees, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or an in-service event that could be linked to these conditions.