Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The Board has found that he was injured in service and finds him credible regarding his injury, but further examination is needed to determine if this injury caused his current condition.

The veteran has withdrawn all her appeals, including those for various disabilities and service connection claims.

The veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis and left hip bursitis have been rated at 10 percent each, with no further changes in rating considered warranted.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a current right ankle disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to service connection for back and right knee disabilities are also denied.

The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond the period from December 11, 2002 through April 30, 2003 was denied as her left knee surgery did not result in severe postoperative residuals requiring convalescence.,The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond the period from July 27, 2004 through November 30, 2004 was also denied as her left knee surgery did not result in severe postoperative residuals necessitating convalescence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is caused by his service-connected right hallux rigidus, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee condition and status post hydrocele surgery, finding that he is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee and left great toe infections are related to his service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current bilateral knee and left shoulder disabilities are related to his service.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, which includes a history of menisectomy and degenerative changes, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further procedural and evidentiary development, including providing proper VCAA notice and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the claim to reopen a service connection for residuals of an injury to the left knee is remanded due to VCAA notice deficiencies and new evidence submitted after certification to the Board.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right knee internal derangement was granted effective April 7, 2003. This decision is based on the merits of his case and not due to any specific exposure or presumption.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral knee disability, and gastrointestinal disorder (stomach cramps). The decision found no evidence of a current disability related to active or reserve service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and residuals of frozen feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture and chronic urinary tract infection, but denied service connection for left knee and hip disabilities. The initial ratings assigned are 30 percent for the urinary tract infection.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the veteran's left knee disability, effective from September 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or substantially contribute to his death from suspected sepsis. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death for purposes of VA burial benefits is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected or prescribed medications, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, right ankle, left ankle, right hand, and left hand have been evaluated based on their initial grant of service connection.,The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee (previously characterized as chondromalacia) has also been evaluated based on its initial grant of service connection.