Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is necessary with respect to the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral knee disorder and initial rating claim for his retinosa pigmentosa. The case is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran's initial noncompensable ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities were granted, and the RO subsequently assigned initial 10 percent ratings effective August 12, 2010. The Board found that the criteria are met for an initial 10 percent rating for each of his service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes since the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis and reactive synovitis with chondromalacia have been rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent for each knee. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate based on the current range of motion findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, but these disabilities have not been shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current left knee disorder to his service, including a reported in-service injury. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current arthritis of the right knee is not due to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the currently assigned 60 percent rating for post total replacement right knee disability is adequate and denied an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities has been granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for traumatic arthritis of the right knee effective September 16, 2010.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a neurological disorder of the left upper extremity, secondary to her service-connected cervical intervertebral disc syndrome. The Board has determined that further development is needed in order to make an informed decision on these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding her migraine headaches and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the left knee. The case must be remanded to afford the Veteran a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical examination to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are caused or aggravated by the service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and assigned a noncompensable rating effective July 18, 1997. The Veteran's appeal is now limited to seeking an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities were granted, with the effective date being from the date of the July 2004 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to a violation of the Veteran's due process rights.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include as secondary to bilateral knee disorders. However, additional development is needed including obtaining medical records and providing VCAA notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and increased ratings for hypertension and bursitis of the right elbow. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the claim of a current bilateral knee disability being related to service, and the other issues were also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.