Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current DJD of the right knee is related to an injury sustained during his period of combat-related service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board found no evidence of a current left knee disability or skin disorder related to service. The veteran's claim for substance abuse was denied as it is not considered a disease for VA compensation purposes. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and allergic rhinitis were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss due to aggravation during active service, but dismissed the appeals regarding left knee disability and low back disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection due to the veteran's failure to appeal prior rating decisions, resulting in a final decision. The RO assigned March 2, 2001 as the effective date based on the receipt of his reopened claim application.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was evaluated at a 10 percent rating since September 1, 2001. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.,Service connection for the right knee condition is denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no medical evidence or opinion that relates these current disabilities to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of spiral meningitis, bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and back disability are denied as there is no competent evidence showing current disabilities or a link to active service.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disorder was found to be manifested by edema, effusion, weakness, tenderness, and limitation of motion for the periods specified. The RO denied increased evaluations as his disability did not warrant ratings higher than those assigned.

The Board has granted the veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The reopened claim pertaining to the right knee requires additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right knee and mid back disabilities, considering both direct and secondary theories of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee injury that was aggravated by the veteran's service-connected left knee injury, and has also granted an increased rating for residuals of fracture of right 3rd and 4th metacarpals.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is currently employed and the combined disability rating does not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the veteran's right knee disability and PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 1, 2000 (the date his temporary total disability rating expired) was not factually ascertainable prior to September 2002. The RO granted TDIU in March 2003 with this effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence showing that a chronic left knee disability existed as a result of military service.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and requests for additional information from various sources.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and the veteran's active duty service.