Knee decisions — 2004

The Board found no evidence of a chronic acquired right knee disorder in service or for many years thereafter, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, or left ear sensorineural hearing loss. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The veteran's degenerative changes of the right knee status post medial meniscectomy are currently rated at 40 percent disabling, and no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has ordered additional development of the evidence due to incomplete information and unverified service records. The appellant seeks service connection for various disabilities, but his claims are remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date allowable by law is June 10, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's hypertrophic arthritis of the left knee, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to VCAA compliance issues and to obtain SSA records.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and generalized arthritis of the knees, feet, hands, back, hips, and legs. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board is remanding the case for compliance with VCAA requirements and to consider the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, including a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability warranted a combined rating of 20 percent, with separate ratings for non-arthritic residuals and traumatic arthritis. The decision did not address any specific date or grant an increased rating.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability that may be related to his already service-connected left knee disability. The case has been remanded for additional development, including obtaining information from the Social Security Administration and considering Dr. Q's November 2003 letter.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the left knee disability rating from 20% to 10% was proper. The right knee remains rated at 10%. No higher ratings are warranted for either knee.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a review of VA rating criteria revisions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, but it remains unclear whether this evidence establishes that the current condition is related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chondromalacia patella, left knee is a result of running in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding no evidence of chronic conditions or any link to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability is not due to unnecessary surgery performed in 1996 and denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.