Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disorders of the lumbar spine, left hip, and left knee, as well as a vascular disorder (to include a skin rash) were denied. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's asserted cold injury residuals did not manifest until many years after service and are not shown by the medical evidence of record to be related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a right hip disability. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the VCAA notice and for additional development of his right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for instability and arthritis. The current rating is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder and bilateral knee arthritis, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current left knee disability and his service, including an in-service injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The claims for increased ratings are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and review due to the reduction in his rating for left knee disability. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's case is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining recent treatment records. The Veteran may be housebound or require aid and attendance based on his current disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability and concluded that the Veteran's reported pain is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied, and his request for an initial compensable evaluation for left knee disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right knee conditions secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records, private medical records, and an addendum to the August 2006 joints examination.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of objective evidence of limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his left knee disability was denied, and the right knee disability claim was also denied. The denial on both claims is due to lack of evidence supporting the requested ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disorders are not service-connected as they did not develop during or as a result of his military service. The right shoulder disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chondromalacia of the left and right knees, as well as initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for femorotibial subluxation of the left and right knees, are being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee strain and whether any diagnosed conditions are related to his service or aggravate his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current left knee disorder related to service, and thus the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is denied.