Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hand disorder, left shoulder impingement, skin rash, diabetes mellitus, sarcoma, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, finding that it is secondary to the veteran's service-connected left ankle condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The issues of evaluating his service-connected right knee disorders and determining if he has a gastrointestinal disorder related to his knee conditions are pending.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's current back and knee disorders are not related to his military service, including any incident where he jumped from a helicopter in Vietnam. The lack of contemporaneous medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, and it is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disorder did not begin in service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for further examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's current bilateral knee, shoulder, wrist, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his service-connected lower back strain, and thus cannot be granted secondary service connection.

The veteran is seeking an extension of a 100 percent evaluation for his right knee disability, which includes hypertrophic degenerative joint disease and total knee replacement. The case has been remanded to clarify the veteran's intent regarding this issue.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and arthritis were granted, while the claim for a left knee disability was denied. The veteran's need for aid and attendance of another person due to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was also recognized.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to his military service or service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and shoulder disorders have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disorder has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine and a separate 10 percent rating for left knee injury, effective from January 1, 2003.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for right knee small meniscus tear, arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and chin scars.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his chip fracture of the right tibia with traumatic arthritis of the right knee, finding that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to the initial ratings for low back strain, right knee sprain, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, and migraine headaches.

The veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities have been granted service connection, but the initial ratings assigned are less than what is warranted based on the evidence of record.,For his low back disability, a staged rating has been awarded from March 17, 2005.