Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to effective dates prior to November 17, 2004 for service connection were denied as the records submitted by him in conjunction with his current claim did not support earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected right knee chondromalacia of the patella is being remanded due to inadequate examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board is remanding the case to provide proper VCAA notice and to allow for further development before re-adjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, left knee disorder, and right wrist disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been withdrawn. The remaining claims of service connection for disorders of the lumbar spine, knees, feet (claimed as joint pain), and chronic fatigue syndrome are dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee DJD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis has been granted service connection. The status of secondary service connection for left knee arthritis and the service connection for a skin disorder of the feet remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar strain, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the extent of current functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including residuals of status post left knee arthroscopy and partial arthroscopic medial meniscectomy, is related to his service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for his left knee disability, which is considered to be aggravated by his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and degenerative joint diseases of the left ankle, right knee, and lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a disability of the left knee or left little finger that had onset during active service or is etiologically related to an injury or disease that occurred or was contracted during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 30 percent after May 2000, while the lumbar spine disability received a staged rating of 40 percent. Service connection for a left ankle disorder was not granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been reopened, while his claims for left knee and right knee disorders have both been granted. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted and others are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation training at INSEAD in France was unique and not available in the United States, preventing him from attending due to personal hardship. The criteria for vocational rehabilitation training outside the United States have been met.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 30 percent disabling since December 16, 2005. The condition is characterized by chronic pain and limited motion.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability, maintaining a current 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma and an increased rating of 30 percent for right knee disability, effective from June 7, 2006.