Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that there is no persuasive medical evidence or opinion establishing a relationship between the appellant's current bilateral knee disability and an injury or disease incurred or aggravated during her active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As such, service connection for a bilateral knee disorder cannot be granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for instability of the left knee and an increased rating to 20 percent for internal derangement of the left knee. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is also granted as secondary to the service-connected left hip and left knee.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the presence and severity of left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's neck, back, and right knee conditions are related to his military service. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to have contributed substantially or materially in causing his death. The DIC claim is dismissed as the veteran was already receiving a combined rating of 100% due to service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was denied. The RO granted a 10% rating for his left knee disability, but denied his request for an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip and knee disorders are not related to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine if any current right knee disability is attributable to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current thoracic spine disability and denied service connection for thoracic spine pain. Service connection for bilateral knee condition is pending as the claim is still under review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development of her service connection claims.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the veteran's residuals of a left knee injury and granted a separate noncompensable rating for his left knee scars. The veteran was not granted any increase in ratings.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to scheduling issues for a video conference hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder warrants a rating of 60 percent, taking into account his symptoms including severe pain and joint effusion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as a low back condition secondary to a right knee condition. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms related to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his low back and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for asthma, migraine headaches, and right maculopathy of the eye were granted. The effective date for these grants is September 8, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disability, but denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of left little finger injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and service connection for PTSD. The veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his left knee condition, and there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between his PTSD symptoms and his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities, service connection for PTSD and other conditions were denied. The claim to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.