Knee decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's left knee arthritis was not incurred during service and is not related to an in-service injury. The claim for service connection for left knee arthritis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional notice under Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 473 (2006). The veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current right knee condition and his military service.

The Board has vacated its previous decision and will reconsider the claim for service connection of a left knee disorder.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal seeking service connection for status post right knee arthroplasty, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disorder was rated at the minimum level, while the scar of the left shoulder did not meet a compensable rating criteria. Service connection was not granted for chronic bronchitis or tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability were denied as there was no evidence of a compensable rating or combined rating in excess of 20 percent, respectively.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confine him to his home, thus he does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation on account of being housebound or needing aid and attendance.

The veteran's appeal involves the claims for increased ratings for right knee strain and chondromalacia with torn meniscus left knee, as well as a claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional development of evidence including Social Security Administration records and VA examination.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of the residuals of gunshot and shell fragment wounds, including any underlying muscle injuries. The case will be re-adjudicated with consideration given to whether separate ratings should be assigned for the back pain and right lower extremity pain.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 60 percent rating, which is higher than the current 30 percent rating assigned.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, and residuals of post-service left knee injury with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery were all granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for nonservice-connected pension benefits, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, and service connection for a right knee disorder. The decision found that the veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his ACDUTRA period of service in November 1971 to February 1972.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee condition and denied service connection for the veteran's claim.,For anosmia, the highest possible evaluation (10%) was already assigned from December 13, 1995 to January 11, 1999. The veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation after this period.

The veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound, lateral aspect of the right knee with retained foreign body in calf is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for hypertension and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident were denied.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's left knee and right wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's right knee disability and denied service connection for a chronic back disability as secondary to his right knee disability.