Knee decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected arthritis on his employability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's TDIU claim must be remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including a left knee condition. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records and schedule the veteran for an appropriate examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left leg (knee) disorder, a left hip disorder, and chronic tarsal tunnel syndrome as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder. The veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for neuralgia of the right heel.

Right knee chondromalacia patella was granted service connection.,Hypoglycemia was reopened and assigned a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting right knee condition was aggravated by service, allowing for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a right knee injury, an initial compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis, and an initial 50 percent evaluation for her psychiatric disability. The claim for PTSD was deferred pending completion of further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Los Angeles Regional Office. The case will be returned to the Board if necessary.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, tinnitus, residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are all rated at their maximum levels. The effective date for his total rating by reason of individual unemployability is March 9, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his somatoform disorder and various musculoskeletal issues, do not render him individually unemployable.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions or injuries during service, and there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, TDIU, and an increased rating for his left knee disability. The effective date of the grant of service connection for osteochondroma of the left tibia was found to be final due to lack of timely notice of disagreement.

The Board denied an increased rating for chondromalacia, right knee, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and entitlement to earlier effective dates for his increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities. The issues were not well-grounded as per the June 2002 rating decision.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an employment handicap and is already suitably employed, thus denying his claim for vocational rehabilitation training.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an extension of a total disability evaluation based on the need for convalescence following his right knee surgery, effective from January 25, 2002.