Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and right knee condition as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by numbness and tingling in the left arm related to service, including as secondary to residuals of ligament disruption of the C1 and C2 vertebrae with subluxation, deformity, and mild degenerative changes. The hip and right knee disabilities are also denied on direct basis due to lack of current evidence of a disability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, with a 20 percent rating assigned for the low back disability.

The veteran's appeal involves three service-connected disabilities: left tibia/fibula/ankle, left knee DJD, and left wrist/forearm. The RO is directed to remand these matters for further development including obtaining additional medical records, arranging for a VA examination, and considering the claims in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and rheumatoid arthritis of the knees, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability meeting threshold requirements. Tinnitus was not incurred in military service. Diabetes mellitus, Type II, was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a right knee condition, a left knee condition, headaches, and a sinus condition. The VA examinations did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other chronic conditions.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities for the claimed bilateral knee and hand disorders, and thus denied service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee strains, but found that the veteran's disabilities do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent from December 4, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of certain evidence. The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a foot and ankle disability characterized as pes planus, bilateral knee disability characterized as chondromalacia, hypertension, and tinnitus. The evidence received since the February 1975 Board decision was not considered sufficient to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for osteoarthritis of the left knee and degenerative joint disease of the left elbow have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability (learning disability) have been denied. The right knee disability is not service connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder, cervical spine, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The lumbar spine disability is granted with a rating of 10 percent from July 22, 1999 to December 18, 2002; 20 percent from December 19, 2002 to April 19, 2004; and 60 percent thereafter. The veteran's frostbite of the feet is rated as 20 percent disabling for each foot.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking any current conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for hypothyroidism and service connection for patello-femoral syndrome, right knee; sinusitis; sore joints (undiagnosed illness); cervical spine degenerative arthritis (undiagnosed illness); and edema (claimed as fluid retention in legs).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and to correct procedural deficiencies.

The Board found that the veteran's current knee, colitis, and concussion disabilities are not related to her military service. The claim for kidney disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.