Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The veteran's thoracolumbar strain and tendonitis of the right knee and right foot have been rated at 20 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's left knee, low back, and bilateral foot disorders to her military service. As a result, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee condition had its onset during active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disorder, characterized as torn cartilage, due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability and denied service connection for a right knee and shoulder condition. The RO had previously denied these claims in July 1996, but the veteran did not appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders were previously denied, but new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.,The veteran underwent total knee replacement surgeries in January and November 2002, but her knee disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for polyneuropathy, right below the knee amputation and left great toe amputation as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence shows that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and inadequate VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder are secondary to his service-connected left knee arthritis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis with seborrheic dermatitis and various forms of psoriatic arthritis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran's initial evaluations for pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left knee disability (meniscus tear), and chronic bronchitis have been denied.,The RO has not assigned any compensable ratings to the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA medical records. He also needs a VA examination to assess his right knee disability and the relationship between his lumbar spine disorder and service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service medical records and missed VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions and that the veteran did not have a history of active service in Vietnam. The Board also found that the veteran had not established service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA Prosthetics records and a VA orthopedics examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee and right shoulder conditions have been denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted service connection for a right leg disorder, left leg disorder, and right knee disorder. Service connection was also established for wedge compression fracture at T12, posterior disc protrusion at L5-S1, and left lumbar facet arthropathy at left L4, L5, and S1 with radiculopathy. A 20 percent rating has been granted for the residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various spine and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.