Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining unit records and a map of southeast Massachusetts as they existed in August 1967.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for neck injury and headaches, or degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The veteran's complaints were not linked to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability is not related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected generalized atopic dermatitis with acneform rash does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities were also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds no credible evidence linking any of his current disabilities to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of such conditions during his active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to decide the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, including whether it preexisted and was aggravated during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and has not addressed his claim to reopen his left knee disability due to lack of evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability and degenerative arthritis, attributing these conditions to Agent Orange exposure during his military service. The VA found no evidence of such disabilities in service or any direct link between them and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right hip disability, both claimed as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or a medical nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent, which includes limitation of flexion and mild degenerative changes. No higher rating is granted due to the lack of more severe symptoms or findings.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shell fragment wounds to the right knee, left thigh, and left leg were denied by the RO. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to his right ankle disability and an increased rating for his right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his service or any service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is rated at 30 percent effective August 7, 2003. Service connection for nerve damage and right knee disability was granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-operative right femur fracture with right knee and hip arthralgia, as his conditions are currently rated at 30 percent for right knee disability and 10 percent for right hip disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and respiratory condition. The RO found that there was no evidence of a hernia in service or post-service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO. The case will then be returned to the Board.

The appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for post-operative residuals of a left total knee replacement.

The veteran's claims for reopening service connection are pending, and the appeals for tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and laceration scar of the upper lip have been granted. The remaining issues remain in a reopened status.