Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high blood pressure, back disorder, left leg pain (other than peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes mellitus type II), depression, hyperglycemia, bilateral knee disorders, right hip disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection in these cases.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability or coronary artery disease that arose during service, and the VA examinations did not indicate any current symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, post-operative total left knee arthroplasty, did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent due to its current status as stable with minimal range of motion impairment.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the knees should be remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the knees and herniated disc at L5/S1 are not related to his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus denied both claims for secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back strain and left knee fracture residuals, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of left sacroiliitis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the hips, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The appeals were also not granted as new and material evidence was not received to reopen his hepatitis or left ankle disability claims.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service-connected left knee conditions and denied secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating higher than the current assigned evaluations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disorders are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify Merchant Marine service, and schedule VA examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his bilateral knee disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, and further action is required to assist in obtaining necessary information for substantiating the claims.

The veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 29, 2002 and initial increased evaluations for his service-connected right wrist and knee disabilities were denied. The RO found no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is rated at 30 percent, and the right wrist disability warrants a 30 percent rating. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for verification of stressors related to PTSD and additional development of private treatment records.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee and left hand disorders are also under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.