Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a right knee disability, status post meniscectomy was denied due to his failure to report for the scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and a back disability. The decision found no evidence linking these disabilities to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury. The claim was granted for the dental disorder as it is considered a direct result of service, specifically the provision of a bridge during active duty.,Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder cannot be established because there are no current manifestations or diagnoses and separation examination did not show any abnormalities.

The Board previously denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders in August 1994. The veteran has submitted new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative changes, right knee. His claim for a left knee disorder is not supported by the new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The RO previously denied this claim in April 2001, finding no definitive evidence of a chronic bilateral knee condition. However, the veteran submitted additional evidence since then, including statements from himself and others, VA treatment records, and a transcript of his hearing testimony. This new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The appeals are all based on reopening of previously denied claims, and the issues involve new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chondromalacia of the left knee and an initial, compensable rating for DJD of the left great toe. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) found that the veteran's left knee disability did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The disorders were not found to be related to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee pain and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection of her bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current knee conditions and her military service.

The veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal, resulting in the vacatur of the June 2005 Board decision.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for asbestosis, right knee disorder, and a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot injury and found that the veteran's current right foot condition is related to injuries sustained during his military service. The issues of increased ratings for the right shoulder disability, right knee instability, and limitation of motion in the right knee are remanded for further development.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current right knee disorder to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased rating for his post-operative right knee disorder with degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for cerumen impaction of both ears, residuals of a left eye injury, hypertension, lumbosacral spine disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle fracture), bilateral knee condition (claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle fracture), and right ankle disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle fracture). Service connection was not granted for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus and degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.