Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee arthritis is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective January 18, 2005.,The VA denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied service connection for right heel spur, left heel spur, and right knee disorder (osteoarthritis) as the evidence did not show a relationship to active duty or National Guard service.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for a bilateral knee disorder as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, finding that these conditions are the result of active duty service. The claims for residuals of a right ankle stress fracture and residuals of a right hand injury were denied as there is no evidence of such disabilities in service or within one year post-service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability has been reopened. Claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability have not been granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on November 7, 2005 at The Villages Regional Hospital due to a lack of emergency condition and because no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports and other issues.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current left knee disorder to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diagnosed respiratory, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, or right shoulder disorders and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, left knee arthritis and chondromalacia, and right shoulder disabilities are not supported by the evidence of record. The current evaluations assigned to these conditions adequately reflect their severity.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, was not shown during service or within a year after service and is unrelated to service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left or right knee disability, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and continued a noncompensable rating for a duodenal ulcer, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to new evidence submitted, and determined that it is related to a current diagnosis of patellofemoral syndrome. The claim is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand for the veteran to undergo an examination to determine if his right knee disability is related to his service-connected conditions, including his right foot and back disabilities.

The veteran was found to be entitled to a total disability rating for his service-connected left knee disability and nose fractures, which would have qualified him for DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination at a Minneapolis or St. Cloud facility to determine the nature and etiology of any current conditions related to his military service.

The veteran's right hip disability is rated at 50 percent since June 30, 2003. Her shortening of the right lower extremity is also rated at 50 percent effective April 30, 2002. The Board granted service connection for her right knee and left knee disabilities as secondary to her total hip arthroplasty.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disorder, hip disorder, left hand nerve damage, generalized arthritis, hypertension, psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disability, digestive disorder, and foot disability. The conditions are presumed to have been aggravated by service.