Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is related to service or his left knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records, as well as issuance of a statement of the case on the reduction in evaluation for right knee strain.

The Board has addressed the claims of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine, an initial compensable evaluation for herpes, a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae and residuals of hepatitis, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals, right foot and right great toe with degenerative changes. The claims are REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, D.C.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the right and left knees, as well as service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral pes planus. The decision also addressed a claim for TDIU but was remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee disability from December 30, 2002 to September 1, 2005.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral knee disorder and the veteran's reported symptoms are not supported by medical findings. As such, service connection for a bilateral knee disorder cannot be established.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability did not originate in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for hepatitis C and service connection for PTSD. The case is being dismissed as a result.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee, genitourinary, left foot, and right ankle disabilities. The claim of service connection for schizophrenia was also denied. No new evidence to reopen the TB claim was presented.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury. The evidence supports a causal link between her in-service injuries and her current condition, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, and these disabilities are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee. The veteran's service-connected conditions were not found to warrant higher evaluations based on current medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and residuals of face trauma. The appeal is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of both left and right knees is related to his active service, granting service connection for these disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have been granted higher ratings, with a separate rating for instability. The right shoulder arthritis remains at the current 10 percent level.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disability. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient information regarding pre-service conditions, aggravation in service, or whether they were related to active duty.

The veteran's right knee and lumbosacral strain disabilities have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the RO has not provided a rationale for this rating. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct another spine examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his petition to reopen a previously denied claim was also denied. The RO found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's right knee disability or arthritis and bone spurs of the right foot to his military service or a pre-existing condition. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a fracture of the 3rd metatarsal of the right foot remains January 20, 1999.