Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation from July 3, 2003, to December 22, 2005. From December 23, 2005, he did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling each. The VA examinations show that the Veteran has complaints of pain, tenderness to palpation, and limited range of motion in both knees. However, there is no evidence of ankylosis or instability warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left knee disability was denied. The RO assigned a temporary total rating from February 12, 2004 to March 31, 2005 and then a permanent 60 percent evaluation effective April 1, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any claimed conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her right knee disability has been denied. The current rating of 20 percent is based on moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a left knee disability effective March 25, 1993, due to clear and unmistakable error in the December 17, 1993 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, including an MRI scan from late 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right shoulder disability, and a bilateral knee disability were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural errors and insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that they met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's back, left hip, left leg, and left knee disabilities did not have onset during active service and are not otherwise etiologically related to his active service from June 1981 to March 1984. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip and left knee conditions are not related to his service-connected right knee disability.,The evidence did not support a finding of secondary service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his attempts to reopen previously denied claims were also unsuccessful. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any presumptive exposure. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to support a secondary service connection claim based on his left ankle disorder.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral knee disorder was incurred during his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's knee, foot, toe disabilities, and cardiovascular disability.