Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing an examination to assess the severity of the veteran's right knee disability. The claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's post-operative internal derangement of the right knee with degenerative changes, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and review. The veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, a right knee disability, duodenal ulcer, allergic rhinitis, left knee disability secondary to right knee disability, and back disability secondary to right knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, right ankle, right leg, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient notice and development, including informing the veteran of what evidence is needed to reopen his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder tendonopathy and allergies including allergic rhinitis, but denied service connection for knee disorder, right elbow disorder, and right finger disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The VA denied the veteran's increased disability rating claims for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder should be remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities were denied. The initial disability evaluation for non-obstructive coronary artery disease with hypertension and history of PVC's was granted at 30 percent, but the veteran is seeking a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hypertension, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and chronic colds/allergies due to asbestos exposure have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis of hepatitis. Hypertension was not shown in service or within one year after discharge. Osteoarthritis of the right and left knees were not shown in service or during the first year post-service, and there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee injury, left knee degenerative joint disease, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease, chondromalacia of the right knee, and chondromalacia of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of right leg and right knee injuries. The veteran needs to provide such evidence, and if found sufficient, his claim will be reconsidered.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disability with arthritis and instability were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (limitation of flexion) or 5261 (limitation of extension).

The Board has determined that the veteran abandoned his claims due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and provide requested information. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee injury residuals, including post-operative medial meniscus tear and chondromalacia patella (degenerative arthritis), are related to a service-connected injury sustained in August 1996. The claim for angioedema is remanded as additional development of medical records from the Mayo Clinic is needed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the service-connected patellofemoral syndrome with lytic lesion of the left knee since June 16, 1999. The veteran's right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent from August 24, 1997 through January 2, 2003 and at 30 percent beginning on January 3, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of neck, back, and knee disabilities. The claim for hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.