Knee Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing. The specific issues of service connection are not addressed as the appeal is in process.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left knee disorder that had its origins during service. The claim for right knee disorder is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the current right knee disability.

The VA denied increased evaluations for the veteran's knee and foot conditions, finding that her symptoms did not warrant higher ratings based on current medical evidence.,The veteran's right knee arthritis was rated at 10%, with no additional instability or subluxation noted. Her left knee arthritis was also rated at 10%. The right knee instability (patellofemoral syndrome and instability) was rated at 20%, while the left patellofemoral syndrome with instability was rated at 10%. The veteran's fallen arches, calluses, contracted toes, and foot bone deformity were rated at 30%.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a stomach ulcer and upper back condition, are denied as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The left ankle condition is granted as secondary to the service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination of the right knee. The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, skin disorder, and low back disorder (claimed as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability) due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between the current conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records, as well as a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to a right foot disorder and an increased rating for his scar, bottom of left foot, residual of excision are being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues. He needs to be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the severity of his scar condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a link between his current conditions and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran has a current left knee disability that is related to his service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, as well as a separate rating for instability of the left knee. The RO assigned a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee effective from October 14, 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether his service-connected left knee disorder meets criteria for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and bilateral leg conditions are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a rating of 20 percent effective September 13, 2002.

The veteran's right knee disability, rated as 20 percent disabling since July 7, 1996, is now rated at 40 percent effective June 18, 1999.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional VCAA notice and readjudication of his claim for an increased rating for right knee disability.