Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development due to pending evidence and procedural issues. The case will be returned for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal is currently remanded for additional development.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues and evidence. The claims for service connection are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Sheperd Grove Air Force Base Hospital and conducting an examination for a jaw fracture disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee replacements are the result of injuries incurred during active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability and psychiatric disability were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms following service or a nexus to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder, tuberculosis, and pain and numbness affecting the lower extremities secondary to service-connected varicose veins. The claim regarding the lumbar spine disorder was also addressed in the decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right knee disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating. The respiratory disorder issue is dismissed due to lack of appeal.

The veteran's skin rash, left hand disability (stab wound), and left leg disability (patellofemoral syndrome) were not found to be related to service. The veteran was granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, which is now considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board found that the veteran's current left knee arthritis is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for compliance with the duty to notify provisions of the VCAA and for obtaining more recent medical records.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee, which is more than the current 10 percent rating. The disability is currently manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees due to pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for claimed disability of hips, knees, ankles and cervical spine due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include knee disability, ankle arthritis, and hip impairment, do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment given his education and experience.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for the service-connected left knee disorder, effective from June 17, 1998. The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer are rated at 10%. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations remain pending.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for status post surgery, left knee patellar ligament rupture. The issue of the merits of the claim will require additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and right knee disorder other than a scar. The veteran contends his current knee disorders are due to injuries sustained in service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and opinions related to the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, as well as to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The decision will be considered 'mixed' if some issues are granted and others not.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to VCAA compliance issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome, which is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant an evaluation greater than 20 percent, as it did not meet criteria for instability or limitation of motion.