Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of his left and right knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected left knee injury with ligament tears, postoperative. As a result, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's request for extension of a temporary total evaluation beyond July 31, 2004 for left knee replacement surgery. The issues of service connection for right and low back disabilities are remanded.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disorder, including any complications. The issues are about increased ratings for residuals of a right knee injury and degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board denied reopening the claim for residuals of a left ankle injury and denied secondary service connection claims for disability of the left knee and shoulder. The evidence received since June 1999 did not relate to an established fact of an in-service left ankle injury.

The veteran's claim for service connection for internal derangement of the left knee is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ankle disorder and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for service connection of a left knee disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral inguinal hernias, right orchiectomy, and left knee scars. The medical evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable schedular criteria.

The veteran's arthritis of the knees is service-connected, and his low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his knee problems. The claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (tinnitus) is held in abeyance pending resolution of the tinnitus appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee condition and service connection for GERD as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder, finding no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions.

The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a minimum, compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes for rating the right knee disability. As such, an initial noncompensable rating was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hematuria and melena, as well as his right and left knee replacements. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and left knee disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids is remanded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require aid and attendance or render him housebound.

The VA determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left knee is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.