Knee decisions — 2004

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current right and left knee disorders to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that the preexisting right knee disorder existed prior to service but did not clearly and unmistakably worsen during service beyond its natural progression.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining verification of inservice stressors and VA/VA examination for PTSD. Service connection will be considered on a secondary basis as his conditions are linked to his service-connected back injury.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist. The veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, but the RO must first secure all relevant service and post-service medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected left ankle disability and service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals of a blow to the head resulting in schizophrenia. The evidence did not show that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur a right shoulder disability during active military service and denied his claim for service connection. The left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but an increased rating or service connection for additional disabilities are also being considered.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disorders.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent, effective June 1, 2001. His gastritis with duodenal and gastric ulcers are assigned a current evaluation of 10 percent from March 20, 2002 through June 27, 2004, but not more than 10 percent thereafter.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other due process considerations.

The veteran's claim for compensation under Section 1151 was denied because the additional disability did not result from VA care, treatment, or examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the dental trauma claim is not reopened. The heart disorder claim due to Agent Orange exposure has also been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee disability was at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected flat feet, and granted secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and back disorders, as well as his claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the right knee. The evidence received since the June 1984 decision was not considered new and material.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected low back strain and left knee degenerative joint disease due to additional development of medical records and a VA examination.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's right knee disorder, including instability, degenerative arthritis and scars.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder that is secondary to his already service-connected left knee disorder.

The veteran's appeal is for initial evaluations and ratings for various conditions, including knee issues, morphea, and varicose veins of the right calf. The RO has granted service connection but denied other aspects of his claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking his current disorders to service or any other basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the veteran's current low back, left knee, and depression conditions are related to service or any other relevant factors.