Knee decisions — 2003

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot with fractured metatarsals and strained collateral ligaments of the left knee have been denied. The RO has determined that these conditions do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current ratings.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and new evidence. The case is now being sent back for additional development, including obtaining MRI reports of the left knee from Dr. Chambliss.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and is remanding the case back to the RO for additional consideration.

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

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining medical records from VAMC in Louisville, Kentucky during the period of 1975 to 1976.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting right knee disability was aggravated by his periods of active service, warranting service connection.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for instability and another 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, with no higher ratings due to the nature of his symptoms and examination findings.

The Board has assigned a separate 20 percent rating for the service-connected right knee disability due to arthritis with limitation of motion, and denied an increased rating based on recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the current rating of 40 percent for the residuals of a stab wound to the left thigh with severe muscle loss, vasgius medialis of the left thigh, MG XIV, and post-operative fasciotomy is appropriate.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder did not manifest during service and is not related to his period of service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has remanded the case to ensure all necessary development is completed, including scheduling a VA orthopedic examination and ensuring compliance with notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension and left knee tendonitis. The RO must provide an SOC in response to the veteran's NOD regarding service connection for proteinuria and migraine headaches.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be remanded for a VA physician review and an assessment of whether there is a causal relationship between the veteran's service-connected low back disability and his current bilateral knee disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, entitlement to higher ratings for his lumbar degenerative disc disease with chronic strain and hypertension with tachycardia, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The reasons were that there was no evidence linking the current neck disorder to in-service events or injuries, and the other conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, effective from October 1, 2000, and February 1, 2002, respectively. The decision also addressed other issues including service connection for a low back disability on a direct basis and an increased rating for major depression.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder, bilateral knee disorders, hemorrhoids, frostbite of the feet, hands, and ears, a finger disability, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis on allergen exposure. The decision is based on the merits of the cases without invoking any presumptive or secondary service connection theories.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of right thigh injury, finding that there was no evidence of muscle damage or involvement and that the LOM on abduction and flexion did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's left knee disorder is manifested by complaints of pain associated with motion, and objective findings include range of motion from 0 degrees extension to 91 degrees flexion. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.