Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral shin splints as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or that they are related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied all of his claims for increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee condition and denied service connection for it. The skin condition to the upper body is established, but the increased rating claim for the right hip disability was denied.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private medical center on January 4, 2004 is denied as there was no emergency condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for a left knee disorder and hypertension, finding no new and material evidence presented.

The veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the issues for left knee pain, sinusitis, otitis media, fibrocystic disease of the breast, and costochondritis are all granted with specific evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability in June 1975, finding that his pre-existing condition had not been permanently worsened by military service. The new evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating from 20% to 10% for osteoarthritis of the left knee is proper. The veteran's condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, low back disability, and headaches. The veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence showing current disabilities or linking them to his military service.,There is no credible evidence of any in-service injury or illness related to the claimed conditions.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of PTSD and an opinion on whether the veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to military service. The veteran will also receive corrective notice under the VCAA.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability. The case is now remanded to determine if the lumbar spine and lower extremity disabilities are secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are not rated higher than the current 10% rating for the entire appeal period.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA medical examination to assess her left knee disability, as she was not able to walk during the previous examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and hearing loss of the left ear as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing left elbow fracture did not increase in pathology during service, and there was no superimposed chronic disability. The acquired chondromalacia of the knees and calluses/corns on the feet were also determined to be unrelated to service origin.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and low back disorder to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.