Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and instability, has been rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5003. The Board finds no additional functional loss or impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disorder due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records from his tour in French Morocco.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of her claims for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's disability evaluations for his right knee condition were reduced, but the Board finds that these reductions are not proper and thus denies them.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate compensable ratings for her right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of separate knee disability. The current 40 percent rating for fibromyalgia already includes symptoms related to both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the right knee, associated with his total left knee replacement, was productive of arthritis with pain on motion during the appellate period. The disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and arranging for the Veteran to undergo appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since January 15, 2007. The claims for increased ratings of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as for initial compensable rating for residuals of tonsillectomy, have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his knee disabilities and an opinion regarding whether his back disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative changes of the left knee with limitation of motion and instability of the left knee were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of records and further examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been granted, with the right knee disability being effective from March 12, 1979 and the left knee strain with osteoarthritis effective from February 20, 2001.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left wrist sprain, left ankle sprain, and left knee patellar fracture have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer was denied as there is no evidence of a link between the condition and his military service. His right knee disability remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a more contemporaneous VA examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorders of the right foot, ankle, knee, hip, and spine. However, it is unclear whether these conditions are directly related to military service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination, as well as further consideration of his claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, knee, and back disorders are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection on the basis that there is at least as likely as not a link between his current right knee disability and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is related to his service-connected left ankle disability.