Knee decisions — 2003

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for compliance with VCAA notice requirements and further review of his claim for an increased rating for a left knee disability.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for right knee and low back disorders. The case is now remanded for additional examination and consideration.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining National Guard medical records from September 1992 to present. The appeal is remanded for this purpose.

The Board has denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including the issues related to rhinitis with sinusitis, left knee disability, and service connection for muscle pain, fatigue, a stomach disorder, a sleep disorder, memory loss, and a panic disorder.

The Board denied service connection for chronic laryngitis, right hip disability, and hemorrhoids. Service connection was granted for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as her claim for a compensable rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist. The RO maintained the current 10 percent evaluation for chondromalacia of the right knee and granted a 20 percent evaluation for status/post arthroscopy of the left knee. However, arthritis of the left knee was not separately rated as it is part of the same disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to incomplete service records and lack of specific information about treatment received during service. The veteran is seeking service connection for psychiatric disability, left knee injury, and chronic pain syndrome.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and lumbar spine disorders as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is related to his service-connected left knee disorder and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder, characterized as degenerative joint disease, was incurred in or as a result of his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims will be reviewed again after necessary development, including obtaining medical opinions and ensuring proper VCAA notification.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney stones, stomach disorder, skin disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral hand disorder. The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD as a manifestation of exhaustion during his Persian Gulf War service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic left knee disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic acquired disorder of either knee or low back disorder in service and denied the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for nonservice-connected disability pension purposes due to his unemployability as a result of his left below-the-knee amputation, which is not considered permanently disabling.

The Board finds that the veteran's arthritis is related to his active service, and grants service connection for arthritis of multiple joints.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to incomplete records. The VA will attempt to obtain medical records from various sources, including VA facilities and Social Security Administration (SSA), as well as request a VA examination.