Knee decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The lumbar spine, right shoulder, right foot, and left knee disabilities are rated at the highest possible levels under the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee scar was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection. The RO assigned initial ratings of 10 percent for facial acne and zero percent for acne of the chest and back, both under Diagnostic Code 7828.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims of service connection for stomach, right knee, low back, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within the one-year presumptive period after separation. The Court vacated and remanded the decision multiple times due to procedural issues, but ultimately upheld the denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for unresectable colon cancer, bilateral knee disability, and history of chronic stomach pain. The cause of death was determined to be multiple organ failure due to metastatic colon cancer with non-insulin-dependent diabetes as a contributing condition.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive VA examination, as the current one did not address all necessary diagnostic criteria for evaluating his left knee disability.

The Board found no current disability of the knees or ankles, and thus denied service connection for bilateral knee disability and right ankle disability. The veteran's stress fractures are healed, so she is not entitled to a compensable initial evaluation for residuals of bilateral stress fractures.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for osteoarthritic changes of the right knee, and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The veteran's ulcer disorder is rated as 10 percent from November 16, 2001 to September 3, 2002.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellar tendonitis of the left knee and hiatal hernia were denied as there is no evidence of symptoms warranting higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, left ankle, lumbar spine, and cervical spine.

The Board denied service connection for variously diagnosed colon, gastrointestinal, skin disorders and a right knee disorder. The claims were not supported by competent evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left femur fracture with left knee disability, left hip arthralgia, and lumbosacral strain. The current ratings of 30 percent for each condition are maintained.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination report from December 7, 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the current evaluations adequately reflected the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing at the Montgomery, Alabama RO.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chondromalacia of her left and right knees, finding that neither knee warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent based on limitation of motion or extension.

The Board has vacated its previous decision and remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash, chronic bilateral knee disability, and chronic bilateral ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.