Knee decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability, disability of the right lower extremity (claimed as right knee disability and right leg disability), tendonitis of the right hip, and allergic rhinitis. The veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to new evidence received since previous final decisions. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral high frequency hearing loss, left otitis media, and residuals of dislocation of the left knee with osteoarthritis.,The veteran was not granted any higher disability ratings in these cases.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee replacement and right knee condition, finding no evidence of a bilateral knee disability in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board found that the veteran's current right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service jumping out of helicopters and his current knee conditions. The Board concluded that the symptoms did not manifest during service or within the presumptive period.

The veteran's bilateral knee disability was not service-connected. The RO granted a 30 percent rating for his psychogenic gastrointestinal reaction/IBS as of January 20, 2000 and increased the PTSD ratings from December 4, 1996 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for additional VA examination.

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the service-connected right and left knee disabilities, including arthritis of the right knee and lateral patellar subluxation and instability.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee instability is not warranted, and a separate 10 percent rating for left knee post-traumatic patellofemoral malalignment syndrome with chondromalacia of the patellofemoral joint is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and patella femoral arthritis of the left knee, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be due to combat experiences in Vietnam, warranting service connection.,For his right knee disability, the current rating of 10% is maintained as there is no evidence of moderate instability or flexion/extension limitations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disability and an increased rating for left knee disability. The claim for service connection for right knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left knee disability, was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for deep vein thrombosis of the right leg and left knee medial compartment narrowing, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to his service-connected disabilities, which contributed materially to his death. The appellant's claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. �� 1151 and 1318 are dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and a need for medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his left knee osteoarthritis and residuals of a fracture of the left tibia, with cruciate ligament involvement. The evidence did not support the assignment of higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed with respect to the May 2003 rating decision, and as a result, his appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to active service, while his postoperative residuals of lumbosacral spondylosis, right knee disability, and left knee disability may be linked to service. The claims for these conditions remain denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities are service-connected, with no specific rating assigned as they are considered direct service connection cases.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and a need for clarification of the veteran's knee problems.