Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the effective date claim.

The veteran's service-connected folliculitis keloidalis nuchae, postoperative, warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The left knee condition remains at the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5259.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's right knee lateral meniscal tear, status post arthroscopic surgery, effective from April 24, 2006. The previous rating was 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder existed prior to service and was aggravated by active military service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for DJD of the left and right knees and neurotic depression with anxiety from appellate consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition, including impingement and history of elastofibroma, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The cervical spine disc herniation was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examination. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-polio syndrome and degenerative joint disease of the right hip and both knees, finding that new evidence did not substantiate these claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, flat feet with associated ankle pain, headaches and cholecystectomy residuals were granted effective March 17, 1997.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for a clothing allowance was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is related to his in-service injury and current treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic left shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and bilateral foot disorders were denied as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the current knee disabilities are not related to his military service, and the ankle disability was not rated higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence, including VA treatment records from August 2005 to April 19, 2007. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if necessary.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and service connection for a left knee condition, diagnosed as arthritis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an increased rating or service connection based on the current medical findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension, a right knee disorder, residuals of injury to the coccyx, and a cervical spine disorder. The veteran's claim for anxiety and depression as secondary to VA's adjudicative process is denied as a matter of law.,VA will grant an effective date earlier than August 29, 1995 for the award of additional compensation based on dependents if the evidence shows that the veteran had his marriage and birth of children prior to October 1, 1978.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his knee conditions and back pain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.