Knee decisions — 2007

The Board found that the appellant's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and service connection for a back disorder, finding that the current evidence did not support higher ratings or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder and denied service connection for bipartite patella of the right knee. The veteran's thoracolumbar spondylosis and dextroscoliosis, left knee stress injury, cervical disc bulging at C3-4 and 4-5 spaces, and shin splints are all rated as they currently manifest.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's disabilities of the right ankle, left ankle, bilateral knees, and low back as secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain. The RO will need to assign a specific rating based on these findings.

The RO granted service connection for osteoarthritis of both knees in October 1973 and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. The appellant requested an increased rating, which was granted with separate ratings for varus malalignment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The claim to reopen the previously denied chondromalacia of the left knee was denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The veteran's initial claim for service connection was denied, and he appealed the decision. The Board remanded the case multiple times to obtain additional evidence.,After obtaining necessary information and evidence, it was determined that the veteran had a scar residual of shrapnel wound on his left knee since October 6, 1969. However, there is no evidence showing limitation of function due to this condition prior to September 13, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is presumed to have been incurred in service, while his right knee meniscal tear is not considered service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left hip and bilateral knees, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, but evaluations in excess of the currently assigned ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip or left knee disorder, including arthritis of either joint, that is causally or etiologically related to his military service, secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, or diagnosed within a year of his service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary for the veteran's left knee and low back conditions, as well as to determine if service connection can be granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, lower back, and neck disabilities as they are not shown to be related to active duty.

The veteran's claims for right knee disability, myopia, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and hemorrhoids have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected knee disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and left knee arthritis will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and increased ratings for her left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.