Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has granted a combined rating of 20 percent for chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, effective from when the initial rating was established.

The veteran's appeal is being dismissed due to his withdrawal of claims for service connection for left knee disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, fatigue, tiredness and lightheadedness due to an undiagnosed illness, and seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for a higher rating for right knee disorder is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary for the veteran's right leg disability, and the intertwined issue of service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected residuals of fractures of the right tibia and fibula, is referred to the RO for adjudication.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the service-connected arthralgia of the right knee, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the knees and shoulders are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.,Evidence received since the May 1972 rating decision is new and material, reopening his claims for left knee disability and pilonidal cyst.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and private treatment records. The veteran's claims for Sjogren's syndrome and bilateral knee disability will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability due to incomplete service medical records. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back pain syndrome. The veteran was also awarded a compensable disability rating of 20 percent for her right knee disorder, effective April 21, 1995.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate compliance with the Board's prior development instructions.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA and non-VA healthcare records, ensuring VCAA compliance, and arranging for a VA genitourinary examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for left knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis. The appellant was not provided with proper VCAA notice and the issue of new and material evidence is incorrectly identified in the rating decision.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection and increased ratings for various knee conditions, as well as a request for an earlier effective date. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct examinations, and determine the appropriate disposition of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, post-surgery, did not warrant a higher rating as his symptoms were consistent with or comparable to limitation of motion of the right leg to 15 degrees on flexion or to 20 degrees on extension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine if the veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease and urticaria are related to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability, which is rated at 30 percent, has been remanded due to deficiencies in the previous decision and the need for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of instability or arthritis in either knee prior to January 5, 1999.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions warrant a higher rating than what has already been assigned.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating on the basis of instability and subluxation, with a separate 10 percent rating for traumatic arthritis with limitation of motion.