Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, chronic lumbar strain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's right knee arthroplasty with traumatic arthritis and history of ACL reconstruction, effective from January 25, 1999.

The Board denied service connection for chronic acquired right knee and low back disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service or secondary to the service-connected left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his military service for his claimed lumbar spine, left knee, and respiratory disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee, status-post repair of torn medial meniscus.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left knee injury and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were denied as there is no evidence of instability or ankylosis, warranting higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for pneumonia and a left knee disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service. The claim for an increased rating for right knee medial collateral ligament strain was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of left leg injury, right knee injury, and right leg injury are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for issuance of a statement of the case on issues related to service connection and initial rating for knee disabilities. Additional development, including examination and obtaining records, is required.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review. The issues of service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination is insufficient to make a determination on the claim and has ordered another examination. The veteran's left knee disability may be related to his in-service injury, but more evidence is needed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disabilities are still pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury (claimed as temporomandibular joint syndrome, with manifestations of neck pain and dizziness) due to new evidence. However, the claim remains denied because there is no medical evidence showing current disabilities or their relationship to service.,Service connection was not granted for the residuals of a bilateral knee injury as there is no medical evidence indicating such an injury occurred during active service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of left total knee replacement due to traumatic arthritis, currently rated at 30 percent.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee, status post meniscectomy.

The veteran's unauthorized medical treatment for right knee arthritis on April 20, 2002 was not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health. As a result, the claim for payment of these expenses is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and awarded an initial rating of 20 percent. The left knee disorder is not considered secondary to the right knee disability.

The veteran was granted an earlier effective date of July 10, 2000 for a 30 percent rating for chondromalacia of the right knee. The 30 percent rating is also restored from November 3, 2003.,Service connection for asbestos-related pleural disease was granted based on exposure to asbestos during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound of the left knee with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.