Knee decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected right hip and right knee disabilities have not met the criteria for higher initial evaluations prior to June 23, 2006, or after that date. The veteran's left patella disability is also service connected but does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, vaginitis, and right shoulder disability due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board is unable to determine the relationship between the veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his current left knee disability, leading to a mixed decision on whether he should be granted or denied service connection for the left knee disability as secondary to the right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and informing the veteran of what evidence is needed to reopen his claims.

The veteran's initial and increased rating claims for his left knee and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral foot and heel disabilities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral knee arthritis, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and bilateral varicose veins disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for breathing problems secondary to asbestos exposure due to lack of evidence of actual exposure and no shown disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current evidence of these disabilities and concluding that they were not related to his military service.

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

The VA denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected paroxysmal atrial tachycardia and chronic left knee pain with history of left medial collateral ligament strain were denied by the Board.

The veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than June 6, 1995 for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for his service-connected limitation of motion and valgus deformity of the right knee, secondary to degenerative arthritis, or for the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his right knee disability and schizophrenia, as they do not result in loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and lower back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings based on limitation of motion or associated neurological deficits.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their severity and his educational background.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet with plantar fasciitis, bilateral knee strain, and bilateral hip strain. The claims for chronic fatigue, joint pain, and GERD due to an undiagnosed illness were also denied as they are not related to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, degenerative joint disease with torn medial meniscus of the left knee, right knee disability, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The evidence does not support these claims as there is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his right knee disability, which was previously rated as 10 percent disabling, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral peripheral vascular disease are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.