Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing and determining if the veteran wishes to designate a representative.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a kidney disability, bilateral knee joint pain, hand joint pain, and throat blockage. The appeals were reopened on new evidence but were ultimately denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left eye injury, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The decision found that new evidence did not present or submit material evidence to reopen the claim for residuals of an eye injury.

The veteran's bipolar disorder is related to service.,Prior to October 25, 1996, the right knee disability was not manifested by severe impairment. From October 25, 1996 onwards, it was found to have mild impairment.,Tinea versicolor has resolved and no longer requires treatment.,Tinea pedis also resolved and does not require a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to new and material evidence. However, after considering all the evidence of record, including post-service medical records that do not support a nexus between military service and the current left knee disorder, the claim is denied as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between the veteran's military service and his current condition.

The veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy results in nocturnal voiding 3-4 times per night, a diminished stream, and no other symptomatology. His patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is characterized by extension to at least 14 degrees and flexion to at least 126 degrees without instability or subluxation. The veteran's onychomycosis affects approximately 3cm squared of his feet with no exfoliation, exudation, or itching. His degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is characterized by an approximate loss of 10 percent of motion after prolonged use but without muscle spasm or abnormal spinal contour.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right and left knee disabilities were aggravated during his active duty service, allowing for service connection.

The veteran's claims for an initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a bilateral knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder and right knee patellofemoral stress syndrome are not service-connected, with no evidence of a direct connection to active service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The increased rating claims for both knees have also been denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and current treatment records.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left below the knee amputation and an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records, including those from the Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital and Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Board found no current medical evidence of left hip or right knee disabilities, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for left hip, knee, and ankle disorders that he believes are related to his service-connected right knee and lumbosacral spine conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature of these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder. The veteran's testimony at his hearing provided credible information about the nature of his right knee manifestations in service and shortly thereafter, raising a reasonable probability of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and cardiovascular disorder. The examiner found no medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement, does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, do not render him unemployable considering his educational and occupational background. The Board concludes that the preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate total individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.