Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has reopened the Veteran's claims for left knee disorder. A VA examination is required to determine if a current left knee disorder is related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her service-connected right knee arthritis, right knee instability, and left knee arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a right elbow disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability due to lack of medical evidence linking the current right elbow condition to his service-connected left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed fifth and eighth rib fracture residuals were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability, nor is there credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 40 percent each since July 1, 1993. The RO has now reduced these ratings to 10 percent effective December 1, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service. The effective date is not applicable in this case.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral pterygia, right ankle fracture, and postoperative residuals of a left knee injury were denied. The conditions are currently rated as noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and a review of his claims file to determine the current severity of his knee disabilities, right knee scar, PTSD, and ability to work. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has referred the claim to the RO for development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities, while serious and requiring the use of a wheelchair or prosthetic leg, do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing benefits due to permanent and total disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to his request.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right leg weakness, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral foot disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and a right knee disorder. The appeals were remanded by the Court due to issues with the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic bilateral knee strain and arthralgia, as well as her chronic bilateral ankle strain, are related to events during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further consideration of his unemployability based on service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the left hip and knee. The case will be referred to VA's Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including pain of the knees, ankles, feet, hands (including fingers), chronic fatigue, upper respiratory symptoms, and headaches, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty or being attributable to a known clinical diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for higher initial ratings and service connection for various disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical examinations to reassess the severity of his current disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his left below-the-knee amputation. The Veteran is in receipt of SMC based on anatomical loss of one foot, but he does not require regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to his military service. The case will be returned for further action.