Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective March 24, 2004. The Board found that the criteria for a higher initial rating were not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and incomplete record. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is now before the RO again.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The RO granted service connection for right knee arthritis on April 7, 2004.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful motion and instability, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The claim for herpes simplex is not currently on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis disabilities are not supported by the evidence of record, and thus have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have been dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee condition results in pain, weakness, and crepitus with limited motion to 100 degrees in flexion. His scars are superficial, stable, not painful on examination, measure less than 39 square centimeters, do not limit motion or function, and do not cause any disabling effects.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is being remanded due to a failure to report for a VA examination. The case will be evaluated on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for mid-chest pain and shortness of breath is dismissed as the symptoms are already compensated by his service-connected thoracic spine disorder.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy was proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's left tibia stress fracture with left knee chondromalacia resulted in no more than a slight knee disability, including limited flexion to 60 degrees. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling an examination and considering whether TDIU is appropriate on an extraschedular basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left foot, ankle, and knee disabilities did not have onset during service or are not related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his current knee conditions and his active service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and back disabilities, finding no credible evidence of a nexus between current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, with no specific service connection granted for other conditions. The rating reflects the current level of impairment due to PTSD alone.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused or made worse by his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee.,However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's low back disorder and his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability, as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination. The issue is being remanded for further development and consideration.