Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. His DDD of L3-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee disability, status post left knee replacement surgery from November 1, 2006 was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for housebound SMC were denied. The Board upheld the current ratings assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition due to lack of current diagnosis and failure to establish a nexus between her current disability and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and attempting to obtain a spousal examination report.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective since November 13, 2008. His right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's current ratings are appropriate based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is currently evaluated at 20 percent. A separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's right and left trapezius strains, right hip strain, left hip strain, and a disability characterized by edema of the lower extremities (claimed as right and left thigh pain) are all found to be proximately due to her service-connected migraine headaches. Service connection for additional right and left knee disabilities is denied as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is also denied as it was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine, right foot, and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disorder, which the Board finds requires additional development including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected postoperative residuals of a left knee injury was denied by the RO. The current disability is currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right arm condition was proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected neck disability. The Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for such condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot disability and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and is granting this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as she did not have a current disability. The claims for the other conditions were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence, including a statement of the case on the issues of service connection for severe bilateral knee arthritis and an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 1998 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral foot disorder.