Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including verification of the appellant's service in 1977. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability remains pending.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee injury is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected torn cartilage of the left knee, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension. The RO found that the veteran was already receiving the maximum schedular rating for these conditions.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis and gout, are related to his service or any incident in service.

The veteran's lower leg disabilities, including bilateral knee pain and shin problems, are being remanded for further development of his medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right knee and back disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disorder. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 26, 2003. His degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee are both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. His surgical scar of the left 7th rib is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. His eczema is also rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and service connection for low back and left foot disorders. The RO continued to deny these issues.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral shin splints and knee strains are currently evaluated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The veteran's service-connected costochondritis does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's right knee scar, finding that the evidence did not meet current schedular standards and no exceptional circumstances were present.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, residuals of bilateral foot injuries, varicose veins of the legs, and bilateral knee disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and an upper respiratory disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a personal hearing with a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the veteran's symptoms were not severe enough to warrant higher ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and upper back disorders, finding no current disabilities. The claim to reopen a lower back disorder was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied both claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's left knee conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

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

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current left and right knee disorders to service, including any parachute jump incident. The VA examiner opined that the conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee injury and arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of more than slight or moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, respectively.