Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including informing him of the information and evidence needed to substantiate his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral patellofemoral knee disorder and unspecified headaches are related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The RO increased the disability rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee from 10 to 20 percent effective June 11, 2002 and for left patellofemoral syndrome from a zero percent to a 10 percent rating effective April 13, 2004. The veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and varicose veins were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is manifested by moderate limitation of motion and pain, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran's knee condition was initially granted but remains at a noncompensable level.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right or left knee disorder during service and concluded that the current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, as well as his initial compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and low back disability.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee and denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied back disability. The decision also addressed evaluations for right and left hip disabilities, finding that they did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for an increased rating for a right knee disability and service connection for a chronic back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to conflicting evidence. The veteran should be scheduled for another VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and then readjudicate the claim of reopening service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The initial disability evaluations for GERD, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and right foot are maintained at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder. The issue will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have hypertension, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, or bilateral foot disability during active service or within one year of separation. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's right knee does not have chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness, and thus denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected residuals of total right knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and re-adjudication due to issues related to service connection for a right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU. The appellant must provide additional evidence or information as required by the VCAA, and VA will attempt to obtain any necessary evidence on his behalf.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete records and will review the case again after obtaining any relevant inpatient clinical records from service hospitals.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her VA medical records.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for right knee chondromalacia with history of trauma and arthritis of the right knee have been denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of any even earlier date.

The Board has determined that the veteran sustained a chronic left knee disorder in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's left knee injury, which was previously rated at 10 percent.