Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limited motion and slight laxity, is rated at 10 percent under the rating schedule. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee, asthma, and gout disorders, as well as a higher initial rating for hypertension to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC, for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO/AMC for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and cervical spine disabilities, which may be related to his inservice motor vehicle accident. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper back or shoulder disability and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by mild degenerative changes and subjective complaints of pain, but not by objective findings of recurrent subluxation, instability, or limitation of motion. The criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent disabling for the right knee disability have not been met.

The Board determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's residuals of ACL repair, right knee and deferred adjudication of his entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right leg and lumbar spine conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by severe instability and arthritis with painful motion, is currently rated at 30 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Knee. The claimant has been granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for non-compensable limitation of motion due to arthritis, and another 10 percent evaluation for right knee scarring.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in most cases, except for left lower extremity paresthesia which met the criteria for a separate 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess his right knee disability, which may affect his current rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee injury, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and meniscectomies. The RO should also give the Veteran opportunity to submit any additional pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records, specifically those related to an MRI performed in October 2009. The issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee condition and entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition are pending.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the duration requirements for a total disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities have been reopened, but the evidence is insufficient to make a decision on the merits at this time.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities to his service, thus denying service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, left knee and ankle disabilities, low back disability, neck disability, right wrist disability, and migraine headaches was denied. The appeal is also denied regarding the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in Waco, Texas. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.