Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for various conditions, including left elbow tendonitis and arthritis of the right hand, left hand other than the left ring finger PIP joint, right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder. The issues were decided as direct service connection cases.

The case is REMANDED to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and for compensable evaluations for hemorrhoids, lumbar spine disability, fractured mandible, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The Board found no current diagnosed left knee disorder.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder on either direct or secondary basis. However, since the decision, two medical opinions have linked the Veteran's right knee disorder to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder and hypertension were not incurred in or related to service.,The Veteran's left knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia have been rated at the minimum compensable level of 10 percent each. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and COPD have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left ankle disabilities were denied by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing at the RO in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease. His traumatic arthritis of the left knee remains at a 10% rating, but he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent. The issue of TDIU prior to October 9, 2003, was also granted.

The Board's June 2009 decision granted service connection for a left knee disability, and the Court dismissed that issue in August 2010. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is now recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee are being remanded due to a need for further development including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left knee disability and any right knee disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to new evidence and a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2008 and at 20 percent from July 18, 2008. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for instability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is less likely than not related to service, including his in-service football injury. The examiner concluded that any relationship between the pre-existing condition and service was speculative.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing before the Board at the VA Regional Office in Phoenix, Arizona.