Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and chronic low back pain, which were previously denied. The Veteran's claim is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. Service connection is established for these conditions. However, no rating assigned or effective date determined.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to his service-connected left knee disability has been reopened. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for hepatitis C, effective from the date of the decision.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and a psychiatric disability including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's unsatisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing a rehabilitation plan, coupled with lack of mitigating circumstances, justified discontinuing his vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee retropatellar pain syndrome and arthritis, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include multiple knee conditions, a scalp laceration, and restrictive airway disease. The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding his new claims and VA examinations.

The Board found that the Appellant's current lumbar spine and right knee disorders are not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence of such conditions during his National Guard service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart disorder), left hip dislocation, ocular hypertension, urethra neuritis, and prostate cancer. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, right knee, and left knee warrants initial ratings of 20 percent for the right ankle and 10 percent each for the right and left knees since January 31, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, lumbar strain, left knee chondromalacia, right knee status post operative arthroscopy, chondromalacia patella, and anxiety disorder are currently evaluated at the 10 percent level. The Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for asthma, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right femur and right knee disabilities, as well as a left knee disability prior to June 7, 2005, have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the appellant's claims of service connection for a left shoulder and left knee disability. The preponderance of the evidence does not show that these disabilities are related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee, low back, and bilateral foot disabilities are related to her service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for continuation of vocational rehabilitation training was denied as she had already been rehabilitated and employed in an occupation related to her program.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including as secondary to his service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his left knee disability, as there was no ankylosis or instability noted. Service connection was also denied for chest pain and a boil on the chest due to lack of clear evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 27, 2004, for his right knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence showing an increase in disability within a year prior to January 31, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, malignant melanoma on the right upper chest and shoulder, headaches, a right index finger cyst/histiocytoma, and an impaired immune system were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any exposure to ionizing radiation.