Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since January 1, 2005. The Board found that the current rating is inadequate and denied an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right knee, and bilateral leg/foot disabilities are not related to her military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities, each rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257. The Veteran's kidney stones are currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's right knee arthroplasty residuals have been rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee instability has been rated at 30 percent since July 12, 2001. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period prior to or after this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a missed VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is now before the RO again.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a torn medial meniscus and probable tear of the lateral meniscus of the left knee, with patellar tendinitis from August 27, 2005, was denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis with limitation of extension between August 27, 2005 and August 3, 2008, was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable disability rating for her service-connected eczema, left knee disability, or migraine headaches. She was also denied service connection for bilateral athlete's foot, low back pain, and abdominal pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The duodenal ulcer was rated as 20 percent disabling, the bilateral knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service, and the psychiatric disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected scars of the right knee, left knee strain, and limitation of flexion of the left knee. The evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the severity of his PTSD and left knee and tibia fracture disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, bilateral leg disability (peripheral neuropathy), bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are all denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim for a back disability and for increased ratings for left knee instability and degenerative joint disease, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his below-the-knee amputation and service connection for low back disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's below-the-knee amputation is improved by a prosthesis controlled by natural knee action, warranting only a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and cannot be considered secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is being remanded due to the pending service connection claim for her left knee disability. The Board will consider both claims together.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his right knee condition. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing evidence and a request for a statement from Dr. D.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for a Travel Board Hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.