Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability or left knee disability due to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it is manifested by some limitation of flexion and pain but not to the extent that flexion is limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Board denied the claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a January 1978 decision that denied service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The evidence did not show CUE as it was based on incorrect facts known at the time, or improper application of law.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, internal derangement of medial meniscus, post-surgery. Service connection was denied for a chronic disability exhibited by back pain.

The veteran withdrew his appeals of the issues related to service connection for a back disability and increased ratings for various ankle and knee disabilities.

The Board denied an increased rating for left knee arthritis, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his left knee disability, earlier effective dates for SMC based on housebound status and DEA benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, and TDIU has been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing left knee and ankle disability did not undergo a permanent worsening during military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities were evaluated and the RO granted increased ratings for some conditions, but denied others.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for left knee instability and a separate rating of 20 percent for dislocated cartilage with locking and effusion in the left knee. The initial rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee remains at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical nexus opinions and a need for further examination. The veteran is seeking service connection for his right knee disorder and hepatitis, which he contends are related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations of his service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability and denied service connection for the veteran's claimed right knee condition. For his left tibial stress fracture with scar from excision, the Board determined that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and procedural development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not warrant an increased rating as they do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip replacement was caused by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee is also granted.