Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran has a current left knee disability that is related to his service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, as well as a separate rating for instability of the left knee. The RO assigned a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee effective from October 14, 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether his service-connected left knee disorder meets criteria for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and bilateral leg conditions are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a rating of 20 percent effective September 13, 2002.

The veteran's right knee disability, rated as 20 percent disabling since July 7, 1996, is now rated at 40 percent effective June 18, 1999.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional VCAA notice and readjudication of his claim for an increased rating for right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to consider new evidence and obtain medical opinions regarding the veteran's knee disorder and flat feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left and right knee conditions are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back disorder, right knee meniscal tear, and right knee arthritis were denied. The veteran was granted a compensable evaluation (10 percent) for his residual scar from the urethroscope/meatotomy procedure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disorder or gastrointestinal disorder that is related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for postoperative traumatic arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left knee patellofemoral syndrome and service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her symptoms did not warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a right leg above-the-knee amputation, which he claims is due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining 1995 VA medical records and providing a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a complete record, including an opinion from a qualified examiner regarding whether the veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability or if it had its onset during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for plantar keratosis and service connection for a left knee disability, finding that her bilateral plantar keratosis warranted a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7819-7804. The Board also found no evidence to support the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability secondary to her service-connected plantar keratosis.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee disability was incurred in service, resolving doubt in his favor.