Knee decisions — 2008

The veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, and the Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development of his claims.

The veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their arthritis and instability, but the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for a left knee injury due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or error in judgment on the part of VA health care providers.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of removal of osteochondroma of the right knee and scar from removal of osteochondroma of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.,The veteran's service-connected right wrist disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and a higher rating is denied.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee chondromalacia and osteoarthritis warrant a 10 percent evaluation each, but not greater.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder did not have its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related to his service. The left knee disability, characterized by crepitus, minor limitation of flexion, degenerative joint disease, and pain on motion, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the low back claim and concluding that any current right knee disability is not related to service.

The Board granted an increased rating of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus and denied the claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the left and right knees.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, bilateral hip/knee/shoulder disabilities, and depression were not supported by the evidence of record. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, leading to the dismissal of these cases.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee injury did not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257, which evaluates impairment based on lateral instability or subluxation. The veteran was service-connected for chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left knee disability during service or for many years thereafter, and the medical opinions do not support a connection between the veteran's current left knee disability and his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left knee disability is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for service-connected left knee arthritis and instability from June 25, 2007 to August 1, 2008 are granted. The rating of 30 percent is effective June 25, 2007.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, knee, and hip disorders as well as a back disorder. The evidence did not show any chronic disability in service or within one year of service that could be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange or other known risk factors.