Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a higher rating for his right knee arthritis prior to March 19, 2011, but granted a separate 10% evaluation for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage from April 4, 2006. The claim was also denied for an increased rating for the arthritis after March 19, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to determine whether his National Guard service was federal or state in nature. The hearing loss disability claim is also being remanded as a new opinion is required from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her knee disabilities and reopening of service connection claims have been adjudicated. The right knee scar is rated as non-compensable prior to December 30, 2008, but the Veteran has not appealed this decision. Other claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right thigh disability, and the right knee arthritis was determined to be secondary to his prior injury and surgery. The Veteran's PB was not shown to cover 20% or more of exposed areas or of the entire body.

The Board found that the Veteran's right below the knee amputation was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a bilateral knee disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left hip disability and GERD has been granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted with an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including entitlement to increased ratings for the dry eye syndrome and service connection claims for various shoulder, knee, and back disorders. The denial of new and material evidence in reopening left and right shoulder disorder claims was also upheld.

The Board denied service connection for right hip and right knee degenerative arthritis as they are not related to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disorders are not linked to his active duty service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for left shoulder bursitis and rotator cuff disease, as well as left insertional Achilles tendonopathy. The right shoulder disorder claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition. The left lower extremity disorder claim is referred to the RO for further adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right knee disability, left knee disability, back disability, left elbow disability, right hand disability, and left hand disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability was not aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and did not provide a credible explanation. The claim for an increased rating for back disability was denied as there is no evidence of hospitalization or exceptional/unusual circumstances, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected unilateral left ear hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left ear hearing loss or a rating in excess of 30 percent since November 1, 2009 for the right knee disability.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and determined that he failed to report for VA examinations. The right knee chondromalacia was rated at 10 percent, but the TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right knee disability and for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current level of impairment of the Veteran's right knee disability and whether his left eye cataract is related to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a left eye cataract and an initial rating for right knee laxity are being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, hemorrhoids, hepatitis C, and hypertension, cannot be granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's endocarditis is presumed to have been incurred in service, and he was granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome remains pending.