Knee decisions — 2004

The Board found no persuasive medical evidence linking the veteran's right knee disorder to his military service, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The RO will conduct further development to determine the current severity of the appellant's left knee condition and whether he has any other service-connected disabilities.,The RO will attempt to verify the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and schedule a VA mental disorders examination to assess the nature and extent of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The examiner will also be asked to determine if the appellant's headaches, weight loss, diminished sex drive, or sleep disorder are due to undiagnosed illness.,The RO will attempt to verify the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and schedule a VA mental disorders examination to assess the nature and extent of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The examiner will also be asked to determine if the appellant's headaches, weight loss, diminished sex drive, or sleep disorder are due to undiagnosed illness.,The RO will attempt to verify the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and schedule a VA mental disorders examination to assess the nature and extent of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The examiner will also be asked to determine if the appellant's headaches, weight loss, diminished sex drive, or sleep disorder are due to undiagnosed illness.,The RO will attempt to verify the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and schedule a VA mental disorders examination to assess the nature and extent of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The examiner will also be asked to determine if the appellant's headaches, weight loss, diminished sex drive, or sleep disorder are due to undiagnosed illness.,The RO will attempt to verify the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and schedule a VA mental disorders examination to assess the nature and extent of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The examiner will also be asked to determine if the appellant's headaches, weight loss, diminished sex drive, or sleep disorder are due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including duodenal ulcer disease, a psychiatric disorder, essential hypertension, chronic renal disease, left knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cyst of the right wrist, hepatitis C, and hyperlipidemia. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current right and left knee disabilities and his active military service. The VA examiners concluded that the veteran's weight was more likely the cause of his knee problems, not any injuries sustained during service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right knee patellofemoral syndrome, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence showed that he had pain and limitation of flexion to 110 degrees without other significant findings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and gouty arthritis. The claim for a dental bridge connection was also denied.

The Board has determined that the appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and clarify issues. The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities will be reconsidered after all necessary steps are taken.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including issuance of a statement of the case (SOC) and an opportunity for the veteran to perfect his appeals on several issues.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a TDIU is May 8, 2001, due to the liberalizing law adding diabetes Type II to the list of presumptive diseases under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his post-operative residuals of a left knee menisectomy with arthritis was denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current disabilities (malaria, left knee wound residuals, and duodenal ulcer) to his military service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of her claims file.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, which includes instability, warrants a rating of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for a bilateral knee disability and residuals of rheumatic fever, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the appeal is REMANDED to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative arthritis and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from July 7, 1995.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations, finding that his left knee disability warranted a 10 percent evaluation and his deviated nasal septum warranting no compensation.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee, status-post total knee replacement effective December 6, 2000. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee, left knee, and back injuries are related to his military service. The VA will now consider the evidence of record for these claims.