Knee decisions — 2004

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, low back disability, or diastasis recti. The veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current bilateral knee disability and her service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of separate evaluations for arthritis and instability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, including arthritis, finding no evidence of such conditions during active duty or post-service. The veteran's current symptoms are attributed to early degenerative joint disease (DJD) without radiographic findings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current disability is likely due to his active military service. The other issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of this document and will be remanded to the RO.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for his knee disabilities, finding that they are not related to his service-connected pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder of the face and left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The veteran's appeal is now pending with the RO.

The case is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected right knee and right foot disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each.,Both conditions have been evaluated under the criteria for musculoskeletal system disorders, specifically Diagnostic Codes 5257 (right knee) and 5284 (right foot).

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee replacement, finding that there was no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for a left knee disorder (degenerative joint disease). The veteran's right knee disorder is the primary cause of his claimed conditions, but VA found no direct evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the severity of his right foot disability and the etiology of his degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural defects and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the etiology of the veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and whether they are related to his service-connected thoracic strain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His DDD, status post laminectomy, was rated at 40 percent; his coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent; and his hypertension was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disability, and arthritis to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral tibia healed stress fractures. However, the claim for peripheral neuropathy of the lower left leg was not granted due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding no current evidence of such a condition and insufficient medical evidence linking any potential injury during service to his current condition.