Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including recurrent urethral strictures and multiple other health issues, all allegedly related to exposure to ionizing radiation during military service. The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees and feet, as well as secondary service connection due to his service-connected sciatica, was denied. The VA examinations did not find any current diagnosed conditions with respect to the knees or feet.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities involving the Veteran's bilateral knees, left shoulder, left ankle, or back, including the lumbar and thoracic spine, that are due to any incident or event in active military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his desire to withdraw all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent from November 1, 2009. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of the disability.

The RO reduced the Veteran's ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease from 40 percent to 30 percent and for left knee disorder from 30 percent to noncompensable, both effective February 1, 2004.,The RO also granted entitlement to a compensable rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease under DC 5260.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his psychiatric disability, and evaluations in excess of 20 percent for his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities. The right knee arthritis and right knee instability disabilities were also denied. No new evidence was presented to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her left knee disorders, including whether any current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and tinnitus. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel information. The AOJ will make a second request for the Veteran's service treatment records, attempt to obtain his service personnel records, and seek any VA treatment records since January 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the appellant requires aid and attendance, which could affect his entitlement to increased special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1114(r).

The Veteran's left knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of evidence showing more severe symptoms such as locking, lateral instability, or recurrent subluxations.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent as there is no objective evidence of marked deformity, pain on manipulation and use accentuated, indication of swelling on use, characteristic callosities, or marked pronation. The impairment does not exceed that of moderate bilateral pes planus.,The Veteran's left wrist ganglion cyst has not been surgically treated and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as there are no significant symptoms or functional impairment.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, and that additional Social Security Disability records should be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders have been granted, with specific initial ratings assigned. The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for his right knee disorder prior to April 28, 2008, and a 30 percent rating from June 1, 2009. He is also entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for his left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence of record is not adequately developed to ensure informed appellate review of the claim on appeal. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need to adjudicate a claim of clear and unmistakable error regarding a 1980 rating decision, which may affect his entitlement to an earlier effective date for bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury of both feet and degenerative joint disease of the knees and legs are being remanded due to incomplete VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination scheduled in August 2009.