Knee decisions — 2007

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his total right knee arthroplasty, as he is already assigned a minimum 30% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board found that the veteran's current shoulder and knee conditions are not related to service, but granted service connection for hearing loss disability due to noise exposure in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and found that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a separate rating. The increased rating claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service medical records and the need for further examination to determine if any knee, shoulder or ankle disabilities are related to service.

The VA has granted increased ratings of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right and left knees, effective from June 2004.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his right knee disability and a higher rating for his right knee condition. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and address procedural issues.

The Board found no current objective manifestations of a bilateral knee or low back disability, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee condition is secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability and grants this claim.

The Board found that the right knee and back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The evidence did not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for residuals of a partial meniscectomy and degenerative joint disease in his left knee, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and his claim for restoration of a compensable evaluation for instability of the right knee are both denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including left ankle fracture, left knee bursitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder. The veteran's claims are not supported by evidence showing a direct link to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a post-surgical scar on the right ankle. The veteran's claims for bilateral ankle and knee disorders are remanded due to incomplete records.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was denied. However, he received a separate 10 percent rating for the disability due to limited motion.,He also received a 10 percent rating under Code 5260 based on limitation of flexion.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional pertinent medical evidence being received after a previous decision, and the veteran's request for review by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disorders. The claim for a back disorder is being remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that additional information and evidence are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection. Specifically, verification of all periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), a VA examination is required for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability, and proper VCAA notice must be provided.