Knee decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and left knee injuries, as well as reopening of the claim for residuals of right arm injury. Service connection was granted for hemorrhoids with a 30% evaluation, but an effective date earlier than November 6, 1998 is not addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee condition is related to his service, and thus granted service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disorder related to service, and denied the veteran's claims for compensable ratings for residuals of a left tibia fracture and postoperative residuals of a left inguinal hernia. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, including arthritis. The rating assigned is 100% (total disability rating). The claimant's pes planus was also found to be related to service and the RO should consider whether it warrants an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and right knee disorders, finding no evidence of injury or disease in service that would support a grant of service connection.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his low back disability is rated at 40 percent. Both conditions are considered to be service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the February 2004 VA examiner regarding whether the veteran's current right knee disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by an in-service road march.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to his failure to report for an examination scheduled in conjunction with his reopened claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and affording the veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his back condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria for varicose veins. The veteran's bilateral varicose veins are currently rated as noncompensable.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective date, increased rating, and reopening of a claim for ulcers. The remaining issues are related to knee disabilities, pes planus, and skin conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including a Statement of the Case with respect to service connection for right hip disability and entitlements related to his right ankle sprain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected skin and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board finds that the veteran's preexisting torn medical collateral ligament of the right knee was aggravated by his active duty military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for headaches and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 (West 2002) for various disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records, lack of proper notice regarding the VCAA requirements, and need for additional medical examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee, left ankle, and right hip disabilities.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and potentially scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability and denied a higher evaluation for his left knee disability from March 10, 1997 to July 22, 2003.