Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to inadequate notice and possible loss of VA medical records. The right knee disability claim is pending, skin rashes and blisters need further examination, and the fatty tumors require additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee trauma and degenerative joint disease, right shoulder bursitis, and right wrist fracture and limitation of motion are denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and the issues regarding his right and left wrist disabilities are also denied. The Board finds that the current evaluations do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and hearing loss disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee strain, finding that his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a separate rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261. The Board also found no evidence of instability warranting a separate rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative disc disease, degenerative changes of both knees, diabetes mellitus type 2, pes cavus in both feet, hypertension, arthritic changes of the left shoulder, and rheumatoid arthritis affecting both lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by numbness of either hand/fingers, and the low back strain did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The Veteran may be eligible for a higher rating if he undergoes total knee replacement surgery.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's back and right knee disabilities, as there was no in-service injury or disease linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied. His claim for increased rating of residuals of head injury, headaches and dizziness was granted with an evaluation of 10 percent effective December 17, 2008. The Veteran withdrew his claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for vocal cord damage.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and right distal clavicle disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection, but the RO has not assigned any higher ratings as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether referral for extraschedular consideration may be warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for hypertension was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The right knee issue is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased evaluations for his service-connected osteoarthritis, left and right hips; chondromalacia patella and anterior cruciate ligament deficiency, left knee; and patello-femoral syndrome, right knee; as well as entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, a left knee disability, and a bilateral leg disability. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted as it is etiologically related to an in-service disease or injury.

The VA determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in service and any pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, inguinal hernias, Achilles tendonitis of the right foot, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, thoracic spine condition, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee condition, and skin condition (psoriasis, warts, abscesses, cysts) have been reopened. Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.