Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency allowance was denied as he did not submit the necessary form to request additional compensation for dependents within one year of receiving notification of his qualifying disability rating.

The veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 30 percent, and no higher rating is granted due to lack of limitation of motion or other disabling conditions. Separate ratings for arthritis, painful motion, or limitation of motion are not warranted.

The veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it was caused or worsened by an in-service injury. The case will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA records and private medical evidence. The veteran should be examined to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee condition is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and left knee disability were denied. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was granted with an initial 70 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's left knee disability is manifested by instability and arthritis with pain on motion, warranting a combined 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral retropatellar pain syndrome of the knees and a bilateral wrist disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for a back disability and a right knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further review of the evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, both on the basis that they are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin condition, and arthritis of the bilateral knees. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim for cold injury residuals of the feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, warranting service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that his current right knee disability is related to an in-service injury, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as it does not result in limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they meet the criteria for arthritis with instability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right leg disability, specifically arthritis of the right knee, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected right knee, bilateral pes planus, scar residuals of left lateral breast biopsy, scar residuals of left index finger, and scar residuals of left thumb. The evidence did not show compensable limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating.