Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic left foot disorder and increased evaluations for his post-operative left knee disability and left hip, buttock, and pelvic pain. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical evidence and schedule the veteran for an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of instability or compensable limitation of motion in his knees. The claim for secondary service connection for pes planus was also denied due to lack of medical opinion supporting a nexus between the condition and his service-connected leg disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability, post-knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent from January 1, 2007.

The Board has requested additional verification of the veteran's service periods, particularly regarding his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The case is being remanded for further development and readjudication.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the relationship between his service-connected right peroneal neuropathy and any left knee condition. The claims for depression secondary to prostate cancer and for a left knee disability are also pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as a nervous condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the thoracic spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet, elbows, or wrists. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various knee, hip, ankle, and leg conditions. The left knee disability was not granted an increased rating, while other claims were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a digestive disorder, a skin disorder, a back disability, and a knee disability were all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee and low back conditions are related to his military service, granting service connection for both.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from July 28 to August 2, 2004 are not eligible for reimbursement because he does not have any adjudicated service-connected disabilities and the treatment was provided in a private hospital emergency department.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has granted evaluations for the veteran's knee injuries, with specific details provided regarding the periods of evaluation and the criteria met.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the veteran's residuals of medial meniscectomy of the right knee with arthritis, which is more than the current 30 percent rating. The disability is characterized by limitation of extension and a single instance of instability.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis in multiple joints was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, foot condition claimed as plantar warts or tinea pedis, bilateral impaired vision, cervical spine disorder, or left arm disorder due to Agent Orange exposure in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability and service connection for a psychiatric disability. The right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, while no psychiatric disability has been found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for any of his claimed conditions, and there is no evidence to support service connection based on exposure in the Gulf War theater.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.