Knee decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of his low back disorder, left knee disorder, and left elbow disorder as secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease. The effective date was not addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the left lateral forehead and left lateral cheek was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, while his degenerative joint disease of the right knee is directly related to his service-connected conditions. The claim for squamous cell carcinoma is denied, but the claim for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is granted.

The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or service connection for arthritis in the elbows, knees, hips, or right ankle. The veteran's claims were denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disorders.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 5, 2001, for TDIU was denied as the earliest possible effective date is December 5, 2001.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee or back disability and determined that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied all claims, including service connection for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the right wrist, as well as increased ratings for various disabilities. The claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her right knee disability is pending, and the case is being remanded to issue a statement of the case. The effective date for the 100 percent evaluation due to a total right knee replacement is also under consideration.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left knee disability were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and left knee disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the left knee disorder is related to service-connected disabilities, specifically right and left ankle conditions. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, as well as his service connection claims for bilateral knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and thoracic spine disability. The decision also dismissed his claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board denied service connection for head injury residuals, right leg disability, right foot disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for TDIU due to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unemployable prior to November 5, 1997.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and hip disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for tinnitus and DJD of the left knee and patella have been dismissed due to his withdrawal. The cervical spine claim is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left testicle disability and a left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims. The decision also noted that the veteran was seeking secondary service connection for his left knee disability due to his service-connected inguinal hernia.