Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability, which he contends was caused by an in-service injury. The RO attempted to schedule the veteran for a VA examination but did not make special arrangements for an examination on Maui as requested. The Board has ordered that the veteran be provided with the appropriate examination in Maui and remands the case for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand condition, left shoulder condition, and right knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for residuals of a ruptured left Achilles tendon, finding that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disorder warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective from June 23, 1990. For his right knee disorder, the Board found no evidence of instability or arthritis and thus denied an increased rating prior to April 17, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritic changes at the metatarsal heads, and bilateral leg disability with degenerative joint disease of the knees are not service-connected.

The veteran's claim that the February 24, 1988 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous in reducing his disability rating for his service-connected right knee disorder from 10 percent to noncompensable (0 percent) is denied. The requirements for an effective date earlier than April 22, 1996 for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability are not met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims, including a determination on whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a prior rating decision reducing his disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a below-the-knee amputation, right leg, claimed as resulting from VA medical treatment in January 1999. The case has been remanded to obtain additional records and determine if VA negligence played a role.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for synovitis of the right knee and service connection for post-traumatic arthritis of the right hip secondary to his service-connected synovitis of the right knee.

The Board has expanded the issue to include psychiatric disorders. The RO denied service connection for a right leg scar and schizophrenia, but failed to provide a Statement of the Case. The case is remanded to prepare such a statement.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examinations and failure to follow directives in previous decisions. The veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including treatment records from VA healthcare systems.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her residuals of fractured ribs with intermittent sternal pain and chondromalacia of the right knee, finding that the current evaluations did not adequately reflect the severity of these disabilities.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right knee replacement disability does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 60 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and bilateral mid foot arthritis are not due to disease or injury incurred in service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or a result of military service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee, back, hearing loss, or tinnitus disorder in service and denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the current conditions are related to a motor vehicle accident in 1991 during active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, cervical spine, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees and ankles, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease are all denied as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.