Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee condition, service connection for a right hip disability (reopened), and service connection for other conditions. The decision also addressed issues related to his bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee meniscectomy residuals and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that chronic right knee meniscectomy residuals were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement has been rated at 30 percent since April 1, 2007. The Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent for the period from February 3, 2006 to present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a supplemental opinion from an examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right hip, left hip, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

The Veteran's bilateral hand, wrist, hip, ankle and foot disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. His lumbar spine and knee disorders are secondary to his diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective April 5, 2001.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the evidence, including securing SSA records and arranging for a medical opinion regarding whether his bilateral knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by chronic pain and limited range of motion, has not met the criteria for a higher rating. A separate compensable rating is granted for arthritis.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing the Veteran has a cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of head trauma, or post-traumatic headaches related to service. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations to address the nature of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee is being remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service combat-related acoustic trauma and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and medial meniscus tear of the right knee, as well as arthritis of the right knee, have been denied by the RO. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for the knee prior to April 21, 2005, and since July 1, 2005, or a rating higher than 10 percent for arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for a right knee condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The claim was ultimately denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for moderate degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that his condition had its onset during service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic left knee and ankle disorders, as well as an increased rating for his right knee disability. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for a temporary total disability evaluation, service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to her right knee condition, and increased evaluations for her right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board notes that the Veteran did not require convalescence following surgery on her right knee, and there is insufficient evidence to determine if her left knee condition is related to her right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling the Veteran for an orthopedic examination, and requesting a determination on whether service connection should be granted for right knee and right shoulder disorders.