Knee decisions — 2003

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 an orthopedic examination of the veteran's right knee.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder dislocation and osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee condition. The veteran submitted medical records from private physicians, but these did not provide sufficient information to link his current condition to service.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and post-operative residuals of vocal cord polyps with hoarseness and laryngeal cancer are on appeal.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case regarding his increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the right knee. The appeal is currently remanded to allow for additional evidence and a thorough examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural issues and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an additional VA cardiovascular evaluation and consideration of 38 C.F.R. § 3.312(c).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for chest pain (claimed as due to reflux disease) and bilateral knee condition. The veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right below-knee amputation was not due to VA medical misdiagnosis or inaction, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, right knee, and left knee have been granted increased ratings to 20 percent each.

The veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee is currently rated at 20% disabling. The claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the increased rating of each knee disability cannot be earlier than September 2, 1999. The claims to reopen service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and right hand and wrist disabilities are denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending requests for additional evidence and clarification. The appeal is currently remanded for additional development, including obtaining information from the U.S. Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records (USASCRUR) and arranging for the veteran to be examined by a VA medical facility.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for clarification of a medical opinion regarding the veteran's left knee condition. The case is now remanded for additional review and possible reconsideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability remains pending.

The Board has granted initial compensable ratings of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee, and right wrist tendonitis since their effective dates.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a jaw disability was reopened.,The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic gliosis of the left tempero-occipital region and right knee disability were also reopened.

The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to the veteran's claim of service connection for a fracture of the right leg, with shortening and foot, ankle, knee, and low back residuals. The case is being remanded to ensure full and complete compliance with the enhanced duty-to-notify and duty-to-assist provisions enacted by the VCAA.

The veteran's right knee disability, hepatitis B, headaches, and psychiatric condition are all found to be service-connected. The aching joints claim is denied as not being attributable to service, while the fatigue claim is also denied due to depression.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis C and assigned a 30 percent disability rating for the left shoulder disability. The other issues remain pending.