Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and arthritis of the knees, finding that these conditions are likely due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and residuals of a left leg injury secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO assigned a combined schedular rating of 80 percent for the veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss rated at 50% and depression rated at 50%).

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis and granted his claims for PTSD and residuals of a right knee injury based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the veteran's current left knee, tinnitus, and otitis externa disabilities and his military service. The veteran needs to provide information about any medical treatment he received for these conditions since separation from service and must undergo VA examinations to determine if he currently suffers from these disabilities that are related to his active duty.

The veteran's claims for service connection are denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for additional development due to a failure to adequately address the duty to notify in the VCAA.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for chondromalacia of the right knee was denied. The RO decreased her disability rating to 0 percent effective March 15, 2000.

The Board found that degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knee was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain a competent medical opinion regarding the veteran's right knee condition and service connection for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury. The RO is instructed to obtain additional records, schedule VA examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating, finding that there was no entitlement to such prior to June 17, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from June 6, 1960.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disability and denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection was also denied for right knee contusion, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining service personnel records and arranging for examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and pancreatitis, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hypertension. The RO had previously denied these claims in November 1992.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a stab wound to the left knee do not warrant an increased rating, as there is no evidence of functional impairment or pain. The secondary service connection claim for orthopedic disabilities of the left knee, right knee, and left hip was also denied due to lack of causation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities, with a rating of 60 percent for postoperative residuals of the left total knee replacement.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is not considered a separate condition from his service-connected lumbar disc disease.,There is no evidence of a left hip disorder that is distinct from or related to the service-connected lumbar disc disease. The veteran's hip pain is attributed to his back disability.,The veteran's leg pain, including in the legs and knees, is considered part of his service-connected low back disability.,The veteran's left knee disorder is not a separate condition but rather an extension of his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for residuals of gunshot wound to the left wrist with fracture of the distal ulna and retained metallic fragments, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated as 10 percent disabling.