Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee injury and dental trauma will be remanded to allow for further development of his records and examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as his increased rating claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right or left knee disabilities and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot bunion deformity and plantar fasciitis, sebaceous cysts, right knee chondromalacia patella, and low back strain/sprain as secondary to his service-connected Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms since service are not credible, and there is no medical evidence showing a chronic left knee condition prior to his claim in October 1993. Therefore, the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and increased ratings for right knee disabilities were denied.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO due to a change in the hearing officer, and he has requested a new video conference hearing before the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability was not caused by any incident of service and was not caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected low back and cervical spine disabilities. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's right knee patellar tendonitis and post-operative residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 10 percent disabling since it requires continuous medication for control.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of a right knee injury with arthritis are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current evaluation is appropriate given the lack of instability or subluxation and limited motion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right hip disorder, claimed as secondary to service connected right knee disability is dismissed due to withdrawal. The case is remanded for further development and readjudication of the remaining issues.

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

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the knees and arthritis of the hips were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the left femur fracture with intramedullary rod placement was upheld, as his disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.