Knee decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for service connection for injuries to the right knee and foot, malaria, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for injuries to the right knee and foot was reopened but not granted. Service connection for malaria was not established.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service, or that they are due to an already service-connected condition.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease did not cause or make chronically worse his right meniscus tear. The criteria for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee and ankle disabilities were not met.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of right femur fracture with right hip pain, arthritis of the right knee, and herpes simplex have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO has granted increased initial disability ratings for these conditions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and plantar retrocalcaneal spur, left foot, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee remains at 0 percent.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits has been granted due to his age, disability severity, and inability to work. The other issues related to service connection have not yet been addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for herpes zoster and hypertension, as well as his claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability. The denial of these claims is based on the lack of evidence showing chronic disabilities resulting from in-service events.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to a lack of recent VA examinations and incomplete VCAA notice.

The VA has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and limited extension of the right knee, assigning each a 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Board denied an increased rating for osteomyelitis of the left lower extremity, status post below-the-knee amputation (BKA), finding that a higher evaluation was not warranted based on the evidence showing no constitutional symptoms and no defective stump preventing prosthetic use.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a right knee or right ring finger disability, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disorder. The left knee disorder claim was denied as there is no competent evidence linking it to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the right shoulder, bilateral knees, hands, wrists, and hips were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for arthritis of the low back was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability, right knee medial meniscus repair, and GERD do not warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee DJD and instability, finding that there was no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or instability throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for knee disabilities on a direct basis and for shoulder and headache disabilities on a secondary basis. The decision also addressed an increased evaluation for cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to reopening a claim of service connection for hypertension and rating adjustments for knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for new VCAA notice and further development of evidence, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with information about reopening his claim.