Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left leg and right knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of recent legal precedent.

The Board has ordered additional examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his service, including a football injury in 1979. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left elbow and ulnar nerve injuries were denied. The effective date of the granted rating remains unchanged at February 2, 1993.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all pending claims before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee arthritis disability in December 1983, finding that the correct facts were before them and they did not incorrectly apply any regulations. The decision is upheld.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability for which service connection can be granted. The preponderance of evidence shows no diagnosis or etiology provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability, including as secondary to a left knee disability, are pending.

The Veteran's right and left ankle, knee, and hand arthritis are found to have been caused by in-service incidents. Service connection is granted for all six conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing for the issues of service connection for a blood disorder, hives/skin condition, and left knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a pulmonary condition, an increased disability rating higher than 40 percent for residuals of a left leg shell fragment wound, and an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for left lower extremity scar residual of shrapnel wound and skin graft. The Board also found that the Veteran's lumbar spine strain is secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left leg shell fragment wound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain a traumatic brain injury during service, and therefore does not have residuals of such. The claims for degenerative joint disease affecting both hips and knees are also denied as they do not involve service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing before a third Veterans Law Judge. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and right knee disability are pending.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right knee arthritis, status post total knee replacement, was incurred during his active service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's unavailability for a VA examination. The case will be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without showing good cause.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and consider secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and TDIU. The Veteran was found not to have a current disability related to kidney disease, and his combined rating did not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee conditions are not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected foot disorder.

The Board found that a cervical spine disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for it. The lumbar spine, left leg (including ankle and knee disorders), right wrist, right knee, and right arm disabilities were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.