Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, finding that the veteran's knee pain during service was likely due to her later diagnosed muscular dystrophy. The increased evaluation requests for right and left knee chondromalacia are pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee condition does not warrant a higher rating than 10 percent, and did not find evidence of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete records and will review the case again after obtaining additional medical evidence.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for various knee and back disorders. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee laxity and instability, effective from April 26, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for pelvic tilt, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with low back pain, and instability of the left knee as secondary to the veteran's service-connected healed fracture of the left proximal tibia and fibula.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, low back disability, and a disability manifested by high cholesterol and triglycerides due to lack of competent medical evidence of current chronic conditions.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and new evidence. The case is now remanded for additional consideration.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for an examination and review of his claims file.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination. The issues include TDIU, service connection for back, knee, and hip disabilities, increased ratings for bilateral hammertoe deformities, and a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery in April 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a right knee disability, finding that the criteria for a 40 percent rating had not been met prior to July 23, 1998.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to failure of the RO to comply with a previous remand directive. The issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee meniscectomy, and traumatic arthritis are addressed in the remand section.

The Board has ordered further development on the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee chondromalacia with residuals of a patellectomy, left knee instability, and low back syndrome. The case is being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the veteran receives a complete record and appropriate consideration of his claims for service connection.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending requests for evidence and clarification. The appeal is currently remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the claims.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right total knee replacement, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current left knee and left ankle disabilities to service, including any inservice injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded for additional examination and development of the claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for either knee.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back and right knee disabilities have been denied. The current ratings assigned are deemed insufficient to compensate for the degree of disability.