Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and adjudication of the issue of entitlement to a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total right knee replacement with revision, is currently rated at 60 percent disabling on and after August 31, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for this time period.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be the result of an injury incurred in service. Service connection for a left ankle disability and a right ankle disability are also granted, with the latter potentially due to aggravation by her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical examination and review of the claims file, including the December 2010 motor conduction studies. The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee disability, bilateral wrist and thumb disability, and left ankle disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, cervical degenerative disk disease, and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with osteoarthritis were all rated at the lowest possible initial evaluation of 10 percent for each condition. The evaluations have not changed since their initial assignment in October 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his hearing preferences. The issues regarding increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination and additional medical records. The case will be returned to the Board after this process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by no other impairment than flexion with pain most nearly approximating 45 degrees, which warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5260. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and verifying his periods of active duty, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve service. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee and right elbow disabilities was denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory condition were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, osteoarthritis of the left acromioclavicular joint, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected and was not caused by his service-connected knee disabilities.,Right knee disability rated at 10%.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which included a meniscectomy and posttraumatic degenerative changes, was rated at 10 percent prior to March 25, 2010. After that date, the rating was increased to 40 percent.

The Board found that the right wrist and left knee disabilities are not related to service, with no indication of a severe injury in service. The appellant's long-term work as a golf professional is considered more likely to have contributed to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records from Bloomington Bone and Joint Clinic. The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected appendectomy scar and left knee disability were evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective from January 20, 2006. The current rating remains at 10 percent after October 7, 2010.