Knee decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found no current right foot disability and denied service connection for a right foot disability.,The veteran's right knee disability was evaluated as noncompensable due to the presence of arthritis, but without instability or other significant functional limitations.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records and VA vocational rehabilitation training records. He also needs an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and its impact on his employability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if any left knee or right shoulder disorders are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability, currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence showed no current limitation of motion or arthritis in the knee.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability and finds that new evidence submitted by the veteran raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for an examination.

The veteran's fall on ice at the VA Medical Center in Texarkana, Texas did not result from VA hospitalization or treatment. The resulting left knee disability was deemed to be a direct service connection and not due to negligence or other fault on the part of VA.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, right leg condition, and back disorder. The claim for an increased initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left knee total knee replacement, currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The case is being remanded to comply with the VCAA and provide additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disorder and therefore cannot establish service connection for his claimed condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected left knee disorder, currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence showed that the veteran had limited flexion and mild pain on motion, but no severe painful motion or weakness in the left knee joint.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied it due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service. The right knee disorder claim was reopened based on new and material evidence submitted by the veteran. However, the increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for secondary service connection of his left knee condition and is now reviewing it. The right knee condition may be aggravating or causing the left knee condition, but this needs to be determined through further examination and medical opinion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical difficulties with the videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling a new videoconference hearing.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee with retropatellar pain syndrome and residuals of lateral partial meniscectomy, as his symptoms did not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right knee disability, which was previously rated at 30 percent but corrected to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for knee injuries and wrist strain, as well as incomplete evaluations of left shin fracture residuals. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records, arrange for a VA examination, and consider staged ratings if appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete notification and evidence, particularly regarding medical records from service.