Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence regarding whether the veteran's right knee sprain is secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder, and to conduct an examination to determine if there is any aggravation of the right knee condition by the left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic low back and left knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic right knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The initial ratings assigned with the award of service connection for thoracolumbar strain, left knee bursitis with instability, tension headaches, and intercostal neuritis are being remanded to allow for further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, or cervical spine disability. The claims of service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left and right knee disabilities did not begin during service or are related to any incident of service. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between his current knee conditions and his active duty service as a paratrooper.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating from June 2006 to July 2006 for the veteran's status post total left knee arthroplasty, effective from the date of revision surgery in July 2006.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding no current diagnoses or medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left total knee replacement warrants a rating of 60 percent disabling, effective from May 1, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for right elbow and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The service connection claims for left elbow, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee have all been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bilateral below the knee amputations that are causally or etiologically related to active military service. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues raised by the veteran regarding the examination and adjudication of his claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cardiopulmonary disease was denied. The RO also determined that the veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his GERD, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, degenerative joint diseases of the knees, costochondritis, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus disability. The claim for pes planus was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition for the claimed bilateral ankle, knee, shoulder, foot, and shin splints disorders. The veteran's asthma was not established as service-connected due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appellant's claims for DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and accrued benefits have also been denied.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection, concluding that any current left knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including post-traumatic arthritis of the knees, tinea pedis (athlete's foot), and a right ankle disability. The veteran was not granted any new evaluations or connections.