Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, shin splints, and loss of teeth or other dental conditions have been denied. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have shin splints and his dental condition consists of multiple replaceable missing teeth and periodontal disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities. However, the Veteran's current bilateral knee and low back disabilities are not shown to be related to his active service or any complaints noted therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain, prostate cancer, and left shoulder disability were denied. The claim for GERD was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective from November 1, 2003.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's partial right hamstring tear, proximal ischial ramus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disorder and awarded an extension of the total rating due to treatment for a service-connected disability requiring convalescence. The bilateral knee disorder issue is withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened and is granted. The Board found new and material evidence in the form of a service treatment record dated in February 1992, which showed complaints of bilateral knee pain during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected right knee injury, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and arthroscopy and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist fracture, status post open reduction and internal fixation.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis did not warrant a separate rating in excess of 10 percent on the basis of limitation of motion or function. The RO has separately rated the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability as 30 percent under Code 5257 (left meniscectomy residuals and status post internal fixation, fracture of the medial condyle left tibia with lateral instability of the knee), and 10 percent under Code 5010 (arthritis).

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees manifested during a period of active duty for training, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychoneurosis symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a compensable evaluation. The VA determined that the respiratory disorder, diagnosed as COPD, is not related to inservice asbestos exposure or any other incident of service. Cold injury residuals were found to be incurred in service due to exposure to extremely cold weather.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of chronic knee disability during service or within a year after discharge, and the medical opinion does not support a link between current knee disabilities and service. Therefore, service connection for right and left knee disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement, did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation in excess of 30 percent beginning December 1, 2007.

The Veteran currently has a left knee disability, but there is no competent evidence showing a causal link between his current condition and any incident of service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee arthritis, as well as a gastrointestinal disorder (ulcers), finding no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and right ear hearing loss were denied. The current noncompensable rating assigned to the right ear hearing loss is maintained.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for her service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to assess the current severity of her condition and that proper VCAA notice must be provided.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's lower back and left knee disability claims has been received. The reopened lower back disability claim is addressed on the merits below, while the reopened left knee disability claim requires further development before readjudication.