Knee decisions — 2005

The appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is being remanded due to requests for a hearing. The case will be handled by the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee, left knee, and lumbosacral spine disabilities. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for psoriasis, and service connection for pityriasis rosea were denied. The skin conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board finds that the veteran's current left knee disability was not caused or worsened by his right knee disability, or by any incident of active military duty.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations and notification of the evidence needed to substantiate his claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders, but did not determine whether these conditions were related to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a bilateral foot disorder, finding that there is no evidence of such disorders being incurred or aggravated in service, or related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee Osgood-Schlatter disease was incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial compensable rating for residuals of a ganglion cyst, right wrist, is remanded due to inadequate examination records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities have been denied. The appeals are based on direct service connection and no presumption or secondary service connection is applicable.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, finding no new and material evidence since the last final denial.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, which is the maximum available under VA regulations. The issues of increased ratings for patellar tendonitis and right knee tendonitis are pending.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with the exception of a gynecological disorder.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, effective from June 3, 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia and arthritis of the right knee, and hepatitis were denied as his failure to report for scheduled VA medical examinations prevented a determination.

The veteran's appeal regarding a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability remains unresolved.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits as his service does not meet the threshold requirements for VA pension benefits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and secondary service connection, but granted service connection for a right knee disability effective February 7, 2002.