Knee decisions — 2007

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee strain did not warrant a compensable rating prior to May 6, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service steam inhalation injury or other incident that could have caused these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to a right knee sprain during service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right knee injury is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's total left knee replacement was not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for aggravation of residuals of a total left knee replacement is denied as there is no evidence showing additional functional impairment due to pain on use.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed knee injuries were not incurred or aggravated during service and arthritis of the knees may not be presumed to have been incurred due to a lack of evidence within one year post-service.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's right knee condition, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of residuals of a left knee injury, bilateral shin splints, right ankle sprain, low back pain, or bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that the veteran's reported symptoms started during his period of active duty. The other claims were denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his TDIU claim. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for left knee disabilities and a TDIU.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for morbid obesity, skin ulceration of the legs, or right knee disability.,Service connection was granted for skin ulceration of the legs as secondary to obesity.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected due to a congenital condition and lack of evidence showing onset or aggravation during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim for a back disorder and for an increased rating for his right knee disorder. The evidence submitted since the last final denial did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim, and the current ratings were found to be appropriate.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board is remanding both issues for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination to assess his current left hip and knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VCAA notice, and will provide further development as requested.

The Board denied a claim for an increased disability rating for right medial meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease of the knee, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been granted with a 10% evaluation since May 29, 2007. The evaluations are based on the current symptoms of pain without limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and left knee disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for a higher initial evaluation for right knee patellofemoral syndrome is pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current right knee and foot disabilities are directly related to his service-connected left foot fracture, or if they were aggravated by it.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his current knee, hemorrhoid, and prostate/bladder disabilities.