Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's service records are missing, and he needs to provide alternative forms of evidence such as 'buddy' statements or other lay testimony. The case is remanded for a medical examination based on the available evidence to determine if his current knee disabilities were incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and right ankle conditions are not service-connected, as they are not shown to be related to his active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's left knee disorder and right foot disorder, including medical records from private providers and an orthopedic examination. The veteran will be provided notice of his rights under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act (VCAA) regarding increased ratings for his conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and a skin disorder characterized as actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, and senile keratosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, asthma, hemorrhoids, and hypertension. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and to adjudicate the claims in light of any new evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. The RO confirmed the current 10 percent evaluation for retropatellar syndrome of the left knee, but did not address his claim regarding depression.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent for both the right and left knee disabilities, effective from the date of the initial rating decisions.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the newly submitted evidence was not new and material.

The Board has denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the newly submitted evidence does not establish a link between the current disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee and hip disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for PTSD and right knee disorder, but further development is needed to obtain recent medical records from VA facilities. The veteran should be asked to provide more detailed statements of his stressors related to PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right knee and status post arthroscopy of the left knee with debridement of chondromalacia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and hip disabilities, as well as an increase in a 20 percent rating for his left ankle disability and a compensable rating for prostatitis and seminal vesiculitis. The evidence did not support secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's claimed back and left knee disabilities are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for low back pain, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease. The veteran's representative raised a new issue of reopening her claim for lupus, which is referred to the RO for adjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee disorder, sinus disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The claim to reopen a right shoulder disability was also denied. An initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for major depressive disorder prior to February 25, 2002, and a compensable evaluation for the service-connected right wrist palsy were not granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee strain, shin splints of the right leg, and right ankle condition are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnoses of herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1, as well as left knee arthoscopy with partial meniscectomy due to left knee meniscal tears, are related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his postoperative right and left knee conditions, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's left knee disability, with a torn meniscus and x-ray evidence of arthritis, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His service-connected duodenal ulcer also prevents him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.