Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hammertoes, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella status post fracture of the right knee.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical evaluation to determine the extent of his service-connected chronic conjunctivitis and whether he has other related eye disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for laxity of the right knee, finding that the condition is no more than mild.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot and ankle disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service. The right knee disability is also denied secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left and right knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including hearing loss, ear infections with cerumen in ear, arthritic pain of the hips and left knee, or an eye disorder. The evidence provided by both service records and post-service medical records do not support a finding of such conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The right knee strain was diagnosed but no service connection was granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder. The veteran's claims are currently in a 'mixed' disposition, meaning some issues were granted while others were not.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing left knee disability, and the current left knee disability did not manifest within one year after service. The Board finds that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication based on new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent since October 10, 2006.

The Board found that the veteran's right leg/knee disorder was not incurred during service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. Therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for adjudication as a service connection issue, specifically whether his current left knee disability is related to his military service. The RO will need to consider the history of his pre-service injury and any aggravation during service.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, bilateral hearing loss, left knee injury, prostatitis, and right shoulder fracture were denied on the merits. The claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected hemorrhoids was not addressed in this decision.