Knee decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right ankle disorder, residuals of a right wrist injury, a GSW to the abdomen, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, bilateral knee and hip arthritis, and a back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, a left shoulder disorder, chronic disability manifested by low back pain, and Klinefelter's Syndrome. The veteran was also denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his right shoulder disability, but was denied a compensable rating for his left knee surgical scars. The left shoulder disability did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right knee and his military service.

The Board remands the case for further development, specifically to obtain a more detailed VA examination addressing the nature and etiology of each currently present chronic disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a bilateral knee condition were reopened as new and material evidence was received.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee, left knee, and kidney stone disabilities are being remanded to provide the veteran with proper notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159, as well as to obtain a new VA examination.

The veteran's asthma was denied a higher rating, while his patello-femoral syndrome of both knees were granted initial 10 percent ratings.

The Board granted service connection for a mood disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder as there was no evidence of a specific diagnosed condition related to the veteran's active service. The Board also denied increased ratings for left thumb fracture residuals and mild left knee instability.

The veteran's claim for a temporary total rating beyond August 31, 2002, based on convalescence from left knee surgery by VA in July 2002 was denied as there were no severe postoperative residuals such as incompletely healed surgical wounds or therapeutic immobilization of the knee.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left foot fracture and his claim for service connection for his left knee replacement were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that either condition was related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development and a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of chronic disability related to service.

The veteran does not have an employment handicap, and therefore is not entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for low back, knee, and hypertension disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, kidney disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and tinnitus as there is no competent evidence linking any of these conditions to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a new examination and SSA records, as the veteran alleges his knee disabilities have worsened since his last VA examination nearly four years ago.

The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including a more current examination to determine the severity of his left knee disability.