Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, and leg disorders were denied as these conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to support the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee chondromalacia, left knee arthritis, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his ankle sprain residuals. The appeals are denied.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and bilateral knee disorder, both secondary to a right ankle fracture. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing direct service connection or a link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip disability and the residuals of a fracture of the left mandible have been granted. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum available rating for these conditions.

The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain and a right knee disability, finding that these conditions are related to service. Bilateral hearing loss and the rectal condition (including anal fissures and hemorrhoids) were not found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The Board has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia and arthritis have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral mal-alignment syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and instability. The evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of a total left knee replacement, the maximum available benefit.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury in service and insufficient credible evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current right or left knee disabilities and his period of active military service. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to further development of evidence being required. The right knee sprain claim is not granted, and other service connection claims are also not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at his scheduled hearing and requests for a new hearing date. The right knee disability rating remains unchanged, but service connection issues are being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his knee disorders, including obtaining medical records from private providers and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial rating of her service-connected right knee disability and service connection for a dental disorder claimed as a damaged #5 tooth were denied. The case is remanded to the RO for further action, including an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at various levels of severity from January 29, 2004 to July 7, 2007. The RO granted a temporary total evaluation for convalescence beyond December 31, 2008 and increased the rating for his total right knee arthroplasty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of current disability related to service.