Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has granted a single 50 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability, effective from January 11, 2007. This brings the combined rating associated with the left knee disability to 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected back disorder due to a lack of medical evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The presumption of soundness at entry to service is rebutted for the right knee disability.

The veteran's lumbar disc disease is rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating under current regulations.,Service connection has been granted for cervical spine disability and depression as secondary to back disability.

The Board denied a higher rating for arthritis of the right knee, finding that the veteran's limitation of motion did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found no current diagnosed disabilities of the lumbar spine or left knee, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rectal cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), and degenerative joint diseases of the left and right knees. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty service or to exposure to herbicides.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a hernia and psychiatric disorder, as secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound (GSW) injury. The VA is remanding the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and coronary artery disease due to Agent Orange exposure, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records and providing notice on the requirements to substantiate reopening a claim for service connection based on new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of issues related to initial evaluations for right knee instability and chondromalacia.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder, and denied it. The right knee issues were also addressed but not fully resolved due to incomplete information.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of seborrhea, torn cartilage of the left knee, arthritis of the left knee, or a torn quadriceps muscle of the left leg related to his period of service. The claim for small bowel cancer with metastasis to the liver is being remanded as it relates to exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury and right knee disability, including total knee replacement, has been granted. The initial rating for the right knee disability is now 30 percent effective June 1, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to address the possibility of aggravation of a preexisting left knee disorder. The veteran's claim will be reviewed again after the completion of the requested actions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right knee DJD and granted a 10% rating for residuals of left knee injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected and therefore does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a videoconference hearing.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for VCAA notice and additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is service-connected as it was caused by an in-service injury.