Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities (knee, ankle, shoulder, hand, or back) incurred in service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disorder, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, chronic right hip disorder, chronic left hip disorder, chronic right ankle disorder, and chronic left ankle disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for the veteran's bilateral knee disability and ADHD.

The Board found that the veteran's current hypertension and left knee disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied both claims.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to limitation of motion, with no evidence of recurrent instability or subluxation. The RO has granted increased ratings for both knees.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service medical records. The RO will attempt to verify any in-service injuries through personnel files and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board denied claims for service connection for gastrointestinal, low back, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his pre-existing left knee condition did not worsen during service.

The Board found no evidence of a current left knee disability, asthma, or allergic rhinitis. The veteran's symptoms were attributed to service-connected conditions and other non-service-related factors.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as there is no evidence of subluxation, instability, or limitation of motion beyond what is already reflected in the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's left knee disability is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability and spinal disability.

The Board found that the veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee does not warrant a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion, and therefore denied his claim for an increased rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a right knee injury in service and the condition did not manifest within one year following discharge. The VA examiner concluded that the current right knee disorder is not related to the veteran's service-connected flat feet.

The case is REMANDED to the RO for further action including obtaining records from Social Security Administration and United States Post Office, conducting a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back condition, right knee status post medial meniscectomy, ligament laxity, and limitation of motion of the right knee are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and left knee disability. The veteran was not granted any additional ratings.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claim for an increased rating for residuals of gunshot wounds to the right knee, including scars.