Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an effective date of November 19, 1996 for service connection of right knee arthritis and a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome as of March 19, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an error in a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the veteran's change in address and incomplete information.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee osteochondritis dissecans worsened during military service and granted service connection for this condition. The left knee disability is not considered secondary to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder, and the GERD and IBS residuals did not meet criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent. The left thumb amputation was rated appropriately based on symptoms and history.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease has been remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and a right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back, bilateral knee, left hip, and right foot disorders are being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain these records from NPRC and NARA, as well as any relevant ship logs. They must also seek private medical treatment records and conduct VA examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The case will be reviewed again after these are obtained.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left hip disability and a 30 percent rating for his service-connected chondromalacia patella of the left knee, effective from May 1, 2008.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability as secondary to left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease, and right knee disability. The evidence did not establish a chronic condition in service or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of left or right knee disorders related to service. The Board finds no evidence of an in-service injury or incident resulting in these conditions and concludes that any current bilateral knee disorders are more likely due to work-related activities, such as kneeling and squatting.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a compensable evaluation for the shell fragment wound scar of the occipital scalp. The claim for residuals of a left knee injury including arthritis and tendinitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for epididymitis and right and left knee disabilities, but denied them on their merits. The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for pes planus is also addressed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between his service-connected left knee disability and his current right knee disability. The veteran is also entitled to increased ratings for his left knee instability and limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability, including ligamentous instability and tearing of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. The left knee disability is also found to be related to active service, but further examination is needed to determine if it is secondary to the right knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and left knee arthritis, finding no evidence of such disabilities in service or within one year post-service. The diagnoses were known clinical entities not related to service.