Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an increased rating of his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for a right shoulder condition, granted service connection for a bilateral knee strain, but denied an initial compensable disability rating for abdominal scars.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the current severity of her service-connected left knee disability and to ensure compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee condition, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right knee disorder due to aggravation, as well as for a skin disorder potentially related to exposure to gas chambers or herbicides. The veteran's current right knee disability is also under review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more recent VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine fusion and right knee conditions.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are not rated higher than the current 10 percent due to lack of limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist injury, right knee injury, and bilateral hand or palm disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities in service records.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran's residuals of left knee injuries, including arthritis, are related to his military service. Therefore, entitlement to service connection for these conditions is granted.

The veteran's right knee surgery required a temporary total disability rating from April 26, 2004 to August 28, 2004 due to convalescence necessitated by the surgical treatment.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder and finds that it is more likely than not that his current left knee disability began during military service.,The Board also finds in favor of the veteran on his claims of secondary service connection for right knee, left hip, and right hip disorders. The Board concludes that these conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a bilateral foot disorder, both claimed as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU rating, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and an orthopedic examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his in-service diagnosis of prepatellar bursitis, and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met for any of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional efforts needed, including scheduling an examination at the correctional facility where the veteran is incarcerated.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence to support a relationship between the veteran's current right knee disability and his military service.