Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for service connection for avascular necrosis of the hips and knees, as well as bilateral foot blisters, due to exposure to Agent Orange is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including VA treatment records from other facilities and information regarding his service in Vietnam.

The Board found that the veteran's left leg, right knee, left knee, and low and mid back disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by military service and are not proximately due to or the result of a service connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left ankle, right ankle, and knee disabilities. The evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee injuries do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of right knee injury, status-post arthroplasty, with reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament and a 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification regarding his claims of service connection for a right knee disability, as well as evaluations for emphysema, right foot disability, left knee disability, and residuals of a right inguinal hernia repair.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and failure to obtain all relevant post-service treatment records.

The veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for cold injury residuals of both great toes is denied as the law does not allow for a date prior to December 9, 1975.,Service connection for bilateral knee disorder is also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence showing arthritis or other chronic disability in the knees.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for shrapnel wounds to the right knee and left hip and buttock were denied as there is no disability of any muscle group or neurologic deficit, with only a mild superficial scar in each case. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not interfere with normal employability.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee, shoulder, and skin conditions were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bursitis of the right and left knees were denied. The RO found that his current disability ratings adequately reflected the severity of his knee conditions.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee, effective April 3, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service, including a shrapnel wound sustained in Vietnam.

The RO has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, but did not assign a specific evaluation. The case is being remanded to reconsider the claim in light of additional evidence.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, concluding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's arthritis of both knees and lumbosacral spine is rated at 10 percent each, representing a full grant of the benefits sought.

The Board found that the appellant's left knee condition was not incurred or aggravated during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA, and therefore denied service connection for a left knee disability. The claim for bilateral foot disability is also pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee arthritis and laxity, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increase in these ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, with post-surgical changes, warrants a 10 percent rating. No separate compensable ratings for lateral instability or subluxation are warranted.