Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is attributable to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate development of the medical records and examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of the left knee, depression, and reflux esophagitis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right knee and bilateral ankles.

The Board found no evidence of a shrapnel wound to the right knee during service and concluded that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy. As such, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been recharacterized and rated, resulting in a combined evaluation of 20 percent. The disability remains at the same level as previously.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee replacement is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's symptoms are related to his military service, specifically his combat experiences in Vietnam. The increased ratings for left knee disabilities remain pending as further development is required.

The veteran's multiple non-service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for residuals of a left knee injury with internal derangement, effective from August 14, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings on the scars from shell fragment wounds were denied. The claim for service connection for essential hypertension, secondary to diabetes mellitus, was not considered as it has not been adjudicated by the RO.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to vocational rehabilitation services is denied as he has overcome the effects of his service-connected disabilities and maintains successful employment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected spondylolisthesis, lumbar spine, and determine if he has a right hip and knee disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a low back injury during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee disability, and stasis dermatitis of the right leg.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic right knee strain was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, knees, and shoulders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability, and her service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is manifested by tenderness on palpation without functional limitation. The initial evaluations for tinea versicolor, polynephritis, and tinnitus are denied as well.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including hemorrhoids with colon polyps and diarrhea, pulmonary disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, depression, fatigue, insomnia, sacroiliac joint disability, lumbar spine disability, hip disability, and muscle twitching, are not service connected due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.