Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee, effective from when the increased rating was granted by the RO in February 2003.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a current disability manifested by left knee pain due to any event or incident incurred during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, knee, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including right knee arthritis, left knee disability, pulmonary disability (bronchitis and asthma), bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability other than PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee condition and bilateral finger condition as they are as likely as not related to service. The veteran's post-service medical records provide evidence in support of these claims.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and left inguinal hernia due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, tinea versicolor, and arthritis of the bilateral knees were denied. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. The other two claims were not granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection and nonservice-connected pension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right quadriceps rupture, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and left hip osteoarthritis are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected status post left medial neuroma meniscectomy.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to instances of 'inaudible' in the transcript. The issues regarding PTSD and right knee disability are still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee condition is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for DJD of the right knee, maintaining the current 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence linking her current disabilities to her military service.

The Board has denied the reopening of the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing left knee disability did not worsen during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and entitlement to an increased rating for his left fibula disability, finding that new evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board also found that the veteran's current left knee symptoms are related to his service-connected left leg fracture.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on slight lateral instability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, but the specific evaluations and effective dates are not specified.,Some issues remain pending as they were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has decided the case requires a remand for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's current left knee condition is related to her military service, specifically if it was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since the veteran's active duty.