Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending before the Court.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a fracture of the left femur with left knee restriction and low back strain have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected ankylosing spondylitis of the left knee, right elbow, and right shoulder are being remanded due to inadequate examination records and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for instability and arthritis, while his left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for arthritis. Both disabilities are not shown to warrant a higher rating.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's left knee disorder was incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including as a result of parachute jumps. The Board finds no direct service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the extraschedular evaluations for chronic low back strain, torn left knee ligament, and torn right medial meniscus with chondromalacia.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left foot/ankle disorder, lower back disorder, and GERD as secondary to his service-connected right foot/ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 following his left knee surgery is granted. However, the claim for a temporary total disability rating from July 1, 2005 to August 31, 2005 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, but the maximum disability rating is already assigned.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee disability and right hip disability, finding that these conditions are proximately due to his service-connected foot disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine did not warrant an evaluation higher than 20 percent for the portions of the appeal period from January 22, 2003, to June 11, 2007, and from December 1, 2007. The Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with baker's cyst also did not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent during the appeal period.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for his left knee arthritis and instability were maintained, with a separate compensable evaluation granted for his skin disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right knee scar disability meet the schedular percentage criteria for TDIU, and his claim is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's achalasia is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 22, 2007. The left knee disability remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and its residuals. The issue of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the right knee is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of an increased evaluation for the left knee disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and a left knee disorder, finding no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability has been remanded for further action.,The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 70 percent, but his claims for other disabilities are being reviewed.,Service connection for hypertension is secondary to PTSD. The issue of service connection for the left knee and skin condition will be addressed as well.,The Veteran's left knee disability and skin condition need further examination to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.