Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the claim to reopen for service connection of low back disability is denied. The veteran's increased rating claim for left knee disability remains pending and will be addressed in a future decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, back condition, blepharitis (claimed as an eye condition), and anxiety due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's left knee disorder is related to his service-connected left lower leg or hip disabilities, and to analyze the opinions of record from previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service, and is not related to any service-connected disabilities. The claim for secondary service connection is denied.

The veteran's arthritis of the left knee was rated at 30 percent from January 5, 2005 to April 17, 2005.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee instability and arthritis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of low back and right knee injuries during service, and denied both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip disorder or left hip disorder related to her active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues, including obtaining SSA records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that new and material evidence supports the claim.

The veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability, but the case is remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee, left foot, neck, and low back disorders are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral knee condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, stiff aching joints, lack of energy, and gastrointestinal disorders. The decision found that these conditions were not directly related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness incurred during the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury during service and concluded that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The timeliness of the appeal regarding a denial in October 2001 has also been withdrawn.

The veteran's left knee disability is not shown to be related to his service or service-connected sarcoidosis.,Service connection for sarcoidosis has been granted and the current disability picture more nearly approximates that of pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control, warranting a 60 percent evaluation.,The veteran's right index finger deformity is shown to be productive of functional loss that more nearly approximates that of a gap of one inch between the tip of the digit and the palm, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to an additional claim for service connection of a right knee disability, which is not related to the left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability remains rated at 30 percent based on degenerative arthritis and slight limitation of motion.