Knee decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder began in service and is related to his military duty, granting service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of October 26, 1998, and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective from that date.

The Board has granted increased ratings for postoperative residuals of a right knee injury and traumatic arthritis of the right knee, effective from December 20, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right ankle, hip, knee, and shoulder injuries due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disorders due to new evidence submitted since the May 1990 denial. The claim is now pending for further review.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability was not caused or worsened by his service-connected left knee disorder. The low back disability did not originate in service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 11, 2001, for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for obtaining treatment records and arranging an orthopedic examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability was denied by the RO. The current rating of 10 percent remains unchanged.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of arthritis or instability in either knee.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and granted it. The right knee disorder claim remains denied on direct basis.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of in-service treatment or chronicity post-service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, left knee disabilities, and right knee disabilities. The initial evaluations for sinusitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy have also been denied.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has ordered additional development as the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is incomplete due to inadequate notice and examination. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The case is being remanded for further development, including an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities include bilateral arm disability, left knee disability, back disorder, hypertension, pinched nerve in both lower legs, sleep apnea, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The appeal is granted for all issues.