Knee decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for various joint and heart disorders. The RO also denied service connection for a right leg disorder, but granted service connection for status post pacemaker implantation due to cold weather injury.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his right knee, left index finger, and right clavicle disabilities. The RO assigned non-compensable disability evaluations to each of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's chronic left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, finding that it is related to injuries sustained during military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current right knee disability, tinnitus, or varicose veins to his active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to his service-connected left ankle fracture with traumatic changes and marked limitation of motion, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability on a secondary basis. The veteran's reopened claim is granted.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his right knee disability, which he claims was caused by a fall during active duty. The VA has ordered an examination and additional development of the case.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected right knee disability, effective June 11, 2001. The veteran's claim was received within one year of this date.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder due to new evidence submitted since the 1997 denial, including medical records showing current diagnosis and testimony indicating an in-service injury. The claim is now ready for further review.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for disability compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his chronic headaches and residuals of injuries to the neck, shoulders, knees, left elbow, and lower back did not result from VA medical care.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, shell fragment wound residuals, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and appendicitis. The right ear hearing loss disability was assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board found no current psychiatric disorder, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The left knee disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed condition.

The veteran's left wrist condition is rated at 30 percent, and his left knee conditions are each rated at 10 percent. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder warrants a rating of 10 percent from May 29, 1998 to August 3, 2003. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spondylosis with degenerative joint disease.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee motion and instability do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, with the current 10 percent evaluations being appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disorder and low back disability, as well as his increased ratings for right knee and ankle disabilities. The RO also remanded the issue of a compensable rating for a right tibia scar.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.