Knee decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a temporary total disability evaluation following right foot surgery in July 1997 and increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities. The veteran's conditions were found to be of direct service origin, with no evidence of exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, shortness of breath, skin disorders, sleep disorder, migraine headaches, watery eyes, right knee chondromalacia, cervical spine disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and benign posterior auricular node are denied. The appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the failure to report for a VA examination. The RO will schedule another examination and provide the claims file to the examiner.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling him for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to ambiguity in the record regarding the veteran's bilateral knee conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance benefits, finding that the veteran's heart and lung disabilities were not related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee, left ankle, or low back disability.

The veteran's service connection claim for stress incontinence of the bladder is granted. The other claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for degenerative changes in both knees is being remanded due to the need for an examination of his left knee.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disorder, service connection for a right eye disorder secondary to trauma, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran timely filed a notice of disagreement with the September 2001 rating decision, which reinstated his appeal on all issues except for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left leg and knee disability, including residuals of a quadriceps tendon injury and degenerative arthritis, on both direct and secondary bases. The veteran's current symptoms are attributed to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, currently rated at 30 percent, from May 22, 2002 to the present.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent for internal derangement of the right knee, status post meniscectomy is warranted. The veteran's arthritis of the right knee is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disorder or hair loss, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The veteran's left shoulder disorder is also denied as there is no evidence of compensable disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the medical record and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to link these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted increased ratings of 60 percent for total right and left knee replacements, and a TDIU rating. The maxillary sinusitis was rated at the current 10 percent level.