Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a total left knee replacement was granted effective from February 26, 2004. He had previously been denied in 1988 and appealed the decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for a left hip disorder, and the initial and increased ratings for status post left knee trauma with residual patellofemoral dysfunction were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for right knee disability and service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, as well as his claim for cervical and thoracic spine disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for the right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability was denied. The RO had previously granted service connection and awarded a 10 percent rating, which has now been adjusted to 20 percent effective since November 17, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and left knee disorder have been rated at the lowest possible level (10%) for the entire appeal period. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequacies in the previous examination and additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his low back strain, meniscectomy of the left knee with traumatic arthritis, or degenerative changes of the right knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthralgia and right knee internal derangement and degenerative arthritis, finding that the current disabilities are related to active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and left thumb disabilities were denied. The rating for the right knee remains at 10 percent, while the rating for the left thumb disability is also at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including loss of teeth, sinus condition, vision problems, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), tinnitus, skin disability, and residuals of a left knee injury were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder due to disease or injury incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were granted, with the right distal radius fracture with degenerative changes of the wrist rated at 10 percent. The left elbow and right elbow disabilities are also service-connected as secondary to his hand impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bronchitis, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for GERD and right knee disability. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claims for arthritis of his left and right knees prior to October 17, 2005. The current ratings of 30 percent are considered adequate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of comminuted fracture to the right tibia and fibula was denied. The RO granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, but did not grant a higher evaluation as his disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee strains with chondromalacia are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or gout and did not have these conditions during any time period on appeal.