Knee decisions — 2003

The RO must prepare a formal rating decision that complies with the opinions of the office of the General Counsel, separately rating the veteran's limitation of motion and instability. The case is remanded for this purpose.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral above-the-knee amputations, finding that they were not proximately due to or the result of his in-service fracture.

The Board found no current evidence of a chronic right ankle or left knee disability and concluded that the veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of medical nexus.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosed left knee disorder and denied his claim for service connection on the basis of direct service connection.

The Board denied increased evaluation for right knee disability and service connection for acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, as well as service connection for back disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities were denied. The only granted claim was for a higher rating of lumbosacral strain.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, which was previously denied in 1976.

The veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, and her bilateral knee disorder has been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for polyarthralgia, previously claimed as joint pain in the hips, elbows, knees, ankles, neck, and back, as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War service. Headaches and chronic fatigue syndrome are also found to be manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent.,His lumbar spine disability, with severe limitation of motion and sciatic neuropathy, is rated at 50 percent since January 23, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a right or left knee injury during service and insufficient medical evidence to link current knee problems to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied eligibility for dependent's educational assistance under Chapter 35, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as being proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability should be remanded for additional development and consideration.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including cold injury residuals and bilateral hearing loss, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right knee and PTSD due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service, with the exception that the veteran's current right knee condition was attributed to aging rather than an inservice injury. Service connection for PTSD was also denied as there were no verified traumatic incidents in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of right foot, right knee, left ankle, or low back. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to the veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, as many of his conditions were unclear or not thoroughly examined in the provided medical records.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for postoperative arthrotomy, right knee is being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and other benefits, resulting in a denial of all issues on appeal.