Knee decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's current left ankle and right knee disabilities are related to injuries sustained during his military service, specifically in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records from VA Medical Center and Eisenhower Army Medical Center. The claim is being remanded for these records to be obtained.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee disability was made worse by his service-connected left knee disorder, and granted secondary service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, finding that the veteran's complaints of pain and swelling began during basic training and have persisted since then.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical evidence and applying the revised criteria for evaluating skin disorders.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the March 1995 hearing officer's decision that assigned a 30 percent evaluation for the left knee disability. The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating was denied, as were his claims for service connection and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound of the right knee and thigh, finding that the veteran engaged in combat during his active military service. The issues regarding hearing loss, lung condition, skin rash, and right groin scar will be remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and thus denied both claims of service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral knee and right hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and a circulatory condition, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service, and that any current conditions were not caused by incidents in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and denied service connection for COPD.

The veteran's claims for compensable evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorders, including retropatellar pain syndrome and chondromalacia of the patella with patellofemoral arthropathy, are related to his military service. The VA examiner found that these conditions were aggravated by the stresses imposed during his military activities.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his right and left knee disabilities. The appeal is currently pending due to this additional development.

The veteran's right knee disability has resulted in subjective complaints of pain, episodes of 'giving out,' and swelling. The disability is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257 for slight impairment due to recurrent subluxation or laxity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, asthma, a left knee disorder, residuals of a right 1st toe contusion, bilateral sebaceous cysts of the peri-auricular region, and loss of vision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of degenerative joint disease in the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's right knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each, and there is no new evidence to reopen the claims. The VA has not yet determined if the urethral condition warrants a rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.