Knee decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a neurofibroma of the right knee, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no current evidence of such condition and no evidence associating it with his herbicide exposure in service.

The Board dismissed the appeal because no Substantive Appeal was filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied each of his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and bilateral foot and ankle disorders are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service or any presumptive conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist, knee, ankle, and toe disabilities were denied. Service connection was granted only for a status post right ankle strain with X-ray changes of the tibia.

The veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the RO has denied his claim for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities are so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder was first manifest during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The veteran's knee disabilities are rated as 10% each.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability worsened during service, and therefore grants service connection for arthralgia of the knees.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's right leg/knee disability, including whether it is related to service or otherwise related to service.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee injury, status post reduction-internal fixation of the proximal tibia, is being remanded due to incomplete file and need for additional development.

The veteran seeks service connection for multiple conditions, including a skin rash, left knee disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, and low back pain. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee and ankle disabilities, or poor blood circulation in the legs. The claims are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be causally related to service. The left knee disorder was denied as secondary to service-connected right knee or left foot disorders due to lack of evidence showing a nexus.

The veteran's claims for increased hearing loss and reopening a right knee condition claim are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including SSA records and an audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, manifested by degenerative disc disease, is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service.,There is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bladder condition to any event or incident of his period of active service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the veteran's current right knee disability, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder as secondary to his already service-connected left leg muscle disability, finding no evidence linking the current condition to military service or any other basis.