Knee decisions — 2008

The veteran's disabilities, while significant, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran was granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the left knee, effective April 27, 2007. The rating for instability remained at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right ankle disability, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for worsening of cervical myelopathy with loss of use of both upper extremities.

The veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities were each granted a rating of 20 percent, but no more, for the entire appeal period.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause, and the evidence of record does not support higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and is not related to any service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcoholism, a lung disorder, dental trauma, a right knee disorder, and left ear hearing loss as the evidence did not support a medical nexus between these conditions and the veteran's period of active duty.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back, right knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral hip disabilities as they were not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's left knee disability is not shown to be more disabling than currently rated at 30 percent.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a medical examination to address the etiology of the veteran's bilateral knee disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder claimed as muscle spasm of the legs, a left knee disorder, PTSD, and anorexia nervosa with psychogenic vomiting.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including providing the appellant with proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded to secure additional evidence regarding his left knee injury, including VA treatment records from the early 1970s. The claim for a compensable rating for his left wrist scar is also being remanded for an examination.

The veteran meets the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment due to service-connected disabilities affecting his lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, as the evidence did not show that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease with underlying tears of the cartilage was related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a respiratory disorder, a stomach disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of both knees, asthma and chronic colds, abnormal liver function tests, and a chronic right hand disorder. The veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, bilateral knee disability and back disability are reopened. The claims for service connection for a right thumb disability and a burn scar of the right posterior shoulder are not reopened.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were granted a rating of 20 percent, with separate ratings of 10 percent for arthritis in each knee, effective from April 30, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, eczema, a knee disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, and joint stiffness due to undiagnosed illness. The appellant's PTSD was rated 70 percent effective February 20, 2004, with an additional increase to 100 percent as of December 31, 2007, for the migraine headache disability prior to June 9, 2005, and a non-compensable evaluation thereafter.