Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total arthroplasty, is currently rated at 60 percent from August 19, 2010. Prior to this date, the rating was 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective February 24, 2009. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating for his degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain, bilateral knee disability, and thyroid disease. The claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his service-connected left knee disability and denied the claim.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection claim for degenerative joint disease of the knees, as the preponderance of the evidence did not show that it was related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating from January 31, 2006, to January 19, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of any knee disorder found to be present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability, right knee disability, or persistent cough for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for a disorder of the lumbar spine and right knee. This includes scheduling VA examinations, obtaining additional medical records, and considering all evidence added to the record since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to service, while his current right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions for the appellant's gout of the hands, left knee and feet, as well as his skin disability including lupus. The evaluation of degenerative joint disease of the right knee remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate range of motion assessment in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from performing the duties of gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and providing a VA examination to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's left leg and knee disorders.

The Veteran's low back and bilateral hip disabilities are not service-connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service. The Board finds that the current conditions are not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for her left knee disability, which was previously granted with a 10% rating from May 21, 2003. The RO has remanded the case due to incomplete VA records and need for additional examination.