Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's right knee conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee and status post surgery for torn medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments with partial tear of the medical meniscus, right knee. The rating for scar of the right knee remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the veteran's claims, including SSA records and a VA examination for his knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and tumors or skin cancer. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for chondromalacia of the knees, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to a service-connected disability, right upper extremity psychogenic pain disorder due to sciatica, left knee quadriceps tendonitis, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and issuing statements of the case on certain issues.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's back and left knee disabilities, finding that new evidence did not establish a direct link to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as his claim for residuals of smoking. The decision also noted that discontinuance of the vocational rehabilitation program was warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of the left ankle disorder and the severity of the service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee disability and hearing loss of the left ear. The veteran's left knee condition was rated as 10 percent disabling, while his left ear hearing loss warranted a non-compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and right knee arthritis were denied. The decision did not address service connection issues.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include right below the knee amputation associated with hypertension with atrial fibrillation and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted this evaluation. The service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome was also established.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee injury, finding no current evidence of such an injury and noting that any symptoms experienced were related to thrombophlebitis of the left leg.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to the veteran's service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized as a strain of the medial collateral ligament, warrants a 10 percent evaluation. The evidence shows full range of motion with no more than 10 degrees loss of motion due to pain and weakness.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation for his residuals of a total right knee replacement, as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5055, 5256, 5261, and 5262.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and procedural issues, including the need for an SOC on new claims.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and the claim for an increased rating of degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.