Knee decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected low back strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee, do not warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination of his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, finding that they are no more than 10 percent disabling.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an epidemic virus, knee disability, toe disability, memory loss disorder, sleep disorder, dehydration, 'ESP syndrome,' and a nervous disorder. The evidence did not support these claims as they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected dermatitis and orthopedic disabilities.

The veteran seeks an increased rating for his left knee disability, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has ordered a remand to ensure proper notice and assistance was provided, obtain VA treatment records, afford the veteran a VA orthopedic examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability but denied service connection for low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder condition, left knee and elbow conditions, right knee condition, upper back condition, left wrist condition, hemorrhoids, and asbestos exposure. The Board found that the current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of proof of current disability.

The veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of both legs was granted, and the effective date was set at June 30, 2005. The issues regarding increased rating for right wrist disability, service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, and neck disability were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected duodenal ulcer and right knee disability are denied as there is no evidence of arthritis or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia of the right patella and denied service connection for medial meniscus tear of the right knee.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability alone does not render him unemployable, as he is still capable of engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation for a left knee disability and the effective date of a back disorder prior to March 22, 1995 was denied by the RO in January 1998. The veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than September 15, 1997 for service connection of right knee injury residuals.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability is not entitled to an increased rating, as his functional status does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating based on limitation of function or instability.

The VA has granted a 10 percent evaluation for osteoarthritis of the right knee, effective from the date of this decision. Additionally, a separate 10 percent evaluation is assigned for degenerative changes in the same joint.