Knee decisions — 2007

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his bilateral knee disability, which he claims is related to his service-connected shell fragment wounds. The Board has determined that a new examination and opinion are needed to address the potential secondary relationship between his service-connected condition and his current knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, but these claims have been denied on their merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hip and knee disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions within one year post-service or a direct link between service and current diagnoses. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's bilateral ankle and knee disabilities have been rated as zero percent disabling prior to June 23, 2005, and 10 percent thereafter. The Board has found no evidence of marked limitation of motion in either ankle or knee that would warrant a higher rating.,The veteran's left and right ankles are currently evaluated at 10 percent each, effective the date of claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current knee disability is not attributable to his in-service injury, and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied the claim as there was insufficient evidence linking the veteran's service-connected disabilities to his cause of death, which was listed as cardiac arrest.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current bilateral knee/leg disability is related to active military service or periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, narcolepsy, hypertension, ocular hypertension (claimed as glaucoma), a left below-the-knee amputation, and peripheral neuropathy. The veteran's leg ulcers secondary to diabetes mellitus claim was withdrawn.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right lung granuloma, right knee and left knee disabilities, and lumbar spine disability have all been denied as not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current ratings of 40% and 50%, respectively, adequately reflect the functional loss due to pain.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow arthritis, left total knee arthroplasty, and right total knee arthroplasty. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, lumbar strain, left foot/ankle disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The veteran's claim for increased rating was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical examination and evaluation of his knee conditions, including left total knee replacement, osteochondritis of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of additional service and a VA examination to determine if any current right knee disability is related to military service.

The veteran's back, left knee and left ankle disabilities have been rated based on their severity. The ratings for the back and left knee are granted at 40% and 30%, respectively.

The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for her service-connected right knee and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's achilles tendon and knee disabilities.