Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability is not shown to be more severe than the currently assigned 10 percent rating, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or impairment to the tibia or fibula, and range of motion testing does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease, to include chondromalacia patella of both knees is manifested by complaints of pain; objectively, flexion of both knees is to no worse than 110 degrees and extension of both knees is to no worse than 0 degrees.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied the claims for a right knee disability, low back disability, and sinusitis.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's knee, hearing loss, and low back disabilities, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The appeal was partially granted, as new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for a right knee disability. The claims for depression and anxiety, tailbone fracture, right leg disability, stomach condition, and increased rating for low back strain were denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the low back disability effective March 26, 2007, and a 10 percent rating for neurological manifestations of the lumbar spine disability affecting the right lower extremity. The right knee disability was rated at 10 percent.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The initial compensable rating for migraine headaches was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a sinus disorder, arthritis of the knees, and glaucoma as they were not shown to have been caused by any incident of service. Additionally, it was determined that kidney failure was not proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault by VA.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple joint conditions to schedule an appropriate examination.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Board denied the claims for eligibility of payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits arising from awards of service connection for right knee disability and major depressive disorder as secondary to right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The appeal is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for scheduling of a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's cervicodorsolumbosacral strain is manifested by no more than mild limitation of motion in any segment, and no significant neurological deficits; but with complaints of pain, sometimes significant. The patellar tendinitis of the left knee is manifested by complaints of pain at times reported to be severe; objectively the evidence shows no compensable limitation of motion and no instability.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a hearing and obtaining SSA records.

The veteran's vocational goal of becoming a chef or obtaining a job in the field of culinary arts is suitable and reasonably feasible.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board grants service connection for a bilateral knee disability, left hip disability, and lumbar spine disability. The evidence is in relative equipoise regarding the left shoulder disability, but it cannot be granted due to lack of medical nexus.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 30 percent disabling for meniscectomy and patellectomy with traumatic arthritis, but the rating was increased to 20 percent effective September 16, 2008.