Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining more recent medical records and scheduling a VA spine examination. The veteran's claims to reopen are also pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder and allergic hay fever were incurred as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, including post-traumatic arthritis and residuals of medial and lateral meniscectomies, is causally linked to in-service trauma. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disability is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete documentation and failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of patellar trauma injury, left knee. The veteran's appeal regarding service connection for status post fracture, left middle finger is still pending as the RO did not issue a Statement of the Case and the veteran has not indicated satisfaction with the assigned rating.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury is denied as there is no evidence within the year prior to July 14, 2003 that his disability increased in severity.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, bilateral ankle, neck, right and left knee arthritis, and hypertension, were denied as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a supplemental statement of the case.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 16, 1997 for service connection of a bilateral knee disorder was granted. The new evidence submitted included the Central Physical Evaluation Board (CPEB) findings from June 1985.

The Board denied a claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-surgical chondromalacia patella of the right knee, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder to include ulcers was not incurred in or as a result of his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board has denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability and left knee tendonitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability was incurred in service, and his cardiovascular disability (including hypertension and associated eye damage) is not presumed to have been incurred during service. The kidney disability is addressed separately.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent due to lack of additional functional loss or instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide proper notification and development of evidence, including informing the veteran of the evidence required to establish service connection.

The veteran's left knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and his onychomycosis and lichen planus are both rated as noncompensable. The diabetes mellitus claim remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination and development of his claims, including consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that the claims were not filed until February 5, 1996.