Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or were aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of his claim in light of additional evidence submitted by him.

The Board found that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee with total knee replacement is rated at 30 percent effective October 1, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's substantive appeals with respect to the issues of service connection for a back condition, including osteoarthritis and residuals of laminectomy; osteoarthritis of both knees; hearing loss; and tinnitus were not adequate. The appeal is now vacated due to the Court's order terminating the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an appropriate examination and missing records, requiring further development including arranging for an examination and requesting Dr. Smith's opinion on the etiology of the veteran's left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hip condition. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support a finding of aggravation during service or any link between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for residuals of a ligamentous injury of the left ankle, finding that the veteran's service-connected condition causes functional losses approximating marked limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved clinical issues regarding low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as a need for additional VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for degenerative changes of the left knee as a result of VA treatment, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The RO granted initial noncompensable ratings for right and left knee disabilities, denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, and denied service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities are service-connected, with no disputes regarding exposure or presumptions.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability did not increase in severity during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for right knee and low back disorders were denied. The RO reopened the claims based on new evidence, but denied them as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and did not find any evidence to support the veteran's claim of VD. The denial was based on lack of new and material evidence for the right knee injury claim, and no current diagnosis of VD.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current eye disability to his active military service.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have been granted and rated at 10 percent each, with the rating for internal derangement of the left knee increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion without instability or subluxation, warrants a 20 percent evaluation.