Knee decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, including obtaining clinical records from the VA Medical Center in New Orleans and medical evidence used by the Social Security Administration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee injury with traumatic arthritis and for service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, with no specific rating assigned and no effective date provided.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding the veteran's left knee disorder. The case is now remanded for additional examination and review.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for various foot and knee disabilities. The case is now sent back to the RO for additional examination and consideration.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative osteoarthritis and hepatitis C. The case is being sent to the Board's Evidence Development Unit (EDU) for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent based on the limited range of motion in her knee. The condition is considered to be service-connected without any presumption or secondary connection.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded back to the RO for the requested development, including an orthopedic examination of the veteran's right knee.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee and right little finger conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder during service and denied the claim as there is not sufficient medical evidence to link the current right knee disability to service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be remanded for an orthopedic examination and review of the claims file.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to missing active duty medical records and the need for additional examinations. The RO will attempt to locate these records, including from the Alabama Army National Guard and NPRC.

The Board found that the veteran had not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees, which was denied in January 1997.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher evaluation based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current manifestations of limitation of motion and neurological impairment.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and service connection for a low back disability. The claim for service connection for appendectomy, postoperative status was granted.