Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a heart disorder or headaches. The claims of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for right foot hallux valgus and left foot hallux valgus are denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for further examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a stomach condition and a right knee condition, finding no current disability related to the veteran's in-service complaints.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and hip conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and procedural deficiencies.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, cancerous lesions of the left and right feet, arthritis of both knees, and back disability. The evidence does not establish that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's left knee disability is manifested by X-ray evidence of mild degenerative joint disease, moderate to severe instability, and slight limitation of motion. The Board found that the criteria are met for a higher 30 percent rating for his left knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left foot disorder, and initial ratings for his right foot disability, back disability, and right ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a mass on his right index finger, left knee disability, and left ankle disability have been granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering the claims again.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee and left calf disabilities did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for both a left knee disability and a left calf disability, as they were determined to be unrelated to any incident of service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of chronic anterior cruciate ligament tear, right knee and traumatic arthritis, right knee.

The veteran is seeking increased ratings for his right knee disabilities and service connection for the residuals of a fall that led to a fracture of his right heel. The Board has determined that additional development, including medical examinations, is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are manifested by complaints of pain and minimal loss of motion, and thus do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease, bilateral knees, with total knee replacement is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for blurred vision in the right eye and shin splints, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The condition is rated under the criteria for direct service connection.

The veteran's service connected disabilities preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, thus the TDIU is granted.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations as he already has the required rating and does not meet other eligibility criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, emphysema, and joint aches as secondary to herbicide exposure were denied. The claim for service connection for birth defects was also denied due to lack of spina bifida in the veteran's children. Separate evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right tennis elbow were not granted.