Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's hearing loss, knee and hip disabilities were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that the pre-existing conditions did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current nature and severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a previously denied claim were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his service connection claim, as it did not establish a current left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The left shoulder disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while the other conditions remain noncompensably disabling.

The Veteran's right knee instability and arthritis, as well as his left knee degenerative arthritis with instability, are rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees have been rated at 10 percent each, based on limitation of motion. The VA examiner found no additional functional loss or impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, and hypertension disabilities. The appeal for lumbar spine disability is being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and residuals of a left ankle injury. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was granted.,There is competent medical evidence showing that the Veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for back and right knee disorders are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted due to marked interference with employment and frequent hospitalizations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective October 7, 2003. The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for instability and limitation of extension of the right knee.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, neck, right knee, left hip, and heat stroke disabilities. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of her current knee and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for below-the-knee amputation of the right lower extremity is denied. The Board finds that his disability picture does not approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating due to his prosthesis being controlled by natural knee action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle sprain, left ankle laxity, and bilateral patellofemoral syndrome are related to his military service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, including internal derangement. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for his right knee disability was denied. His left knee disability received a 10 percent evaluation, effective May 23, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and right knee disability were denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service. The claim for increased rating of right foot plantar fasciitis was also denied.