Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including arthritis and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The claims were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic disability within one year post-service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of bilateral knee injury due to new and material evidence, including opinions from Dr. M. and a VA examiner. The Board found that there is some link between current knee disability and military service.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder, manifested by subjective complaints with normal extension and flexion ranging from 134 degrees to 145 degrees without instability or subluxation, does not meet the schedular criteria for a higher initial evaluation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee injury with chondromalacia and tinea pedis, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate notice, need for additional evidence, and the need for VA examinations.

The veteran's service connection for a right knee disorder is granted, and his disability ratings are increased.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluation of his left ankle, knee, and wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and notifying the veteran about his rights under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied by the RO in August 2001 due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the November 1998 and June 1999 rating decisions is not new and material, thus preventing the veteran's claims of service connection for loss of use of left leg and knee and upper back condition from being reopened.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the veteran or his representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the veteran's current bilateral knee disability and service. The veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The veteran's muscle herniation of the left knee is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to treatment for his service-connected left knee disorder in 1995, finding that the claim was not received within one year of the date of increase in disability.

The veteran's claims for secondary service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and an increased evaluation for his service-connected burn residuals of the right thigh are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his knee disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability did not originate in service or within one year of his discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for hearing loss, diabetic polyneuropathy of the legs, and surgical residuals of the right knee were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that any current disabilities are related to military service.