Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for right knee disability. The evidence shows a history of multiple surgeries and injuries related to the right knee, but does not establish a direct link between any current condition and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for varicose veins in the left leg and bilateral knee disorders, finding that any increase in severity was not due to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The RO increased the rating for the right knee disability to 10 percent effective June 1, 2001. The initial ratings for all three conditions remain at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and potential interrelated claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a Travel Board hearing and further development of the claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hip and knee disabilities are secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, resulting in a 20% rating for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of the left shoulder, and his degenerative joint disease of the knees is not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for a back disability and left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and disorders of the knees. The veteran's claim for a timely appeal on the issue of initial rating for low back injury with mechanical low back pain is still pending.

The Board has requested an independent medical expert opinion and additional evidence was received. The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including proper VCAA notice.

The Board found no evidence of a left leg disability in service and concluded that the current degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the left hip and knee is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a skin condition, lower left leg disability to include the left knee, foot, and Achilles tendon, left arm and left elbow condition, or heart condition as a result of service. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury or disorder during service and concluded that the veteran does not currently have residuals of a right knee injury. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the knees, finding no link between current knee problems and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not presumed to have been incurred in active service. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that his current right knee condition is etiologically related to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted it. The claims for right knee and right leg disabilities were denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative changes and limitation of motion, as well as instability. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain prior to August 12, 2004. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain from August 12, 2004 was also denied.