Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims, and direct service connection was not established.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and a bilateral hip disorder. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not warrant ratings in excess of 10 percent, and he was found not to be unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted a 20 percent evaluation for each. The Board also denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, and the claims are dismissed.

The appellant has residuals of an in-service right ring finger dislocation, and service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, right knee chondromalacia, residual pain due to left knee cellulitis, back injury residuals, morbid obesity, kidney infections, and asthma. The Board also granted initial 10 percent disability ratings for a left knee disability and asthma.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, ankle disability, knee disability, groin injury, gout, and psoriatic arthritis of the feet as there was no credible evidence establishing that an event, injury, or disease related to these claimed disabilities occurred in service.

The Board determined that the RO correctly calculated the Veteran's combined disability rating of 60 percent, and denied a higher combined evaluation.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Board granted separate disability ratings of 20 percent for lateral instability of the right knee and 10 percent for lateral instability of the left knee, but denied increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of both knees.

The Board remands the claims for a bilateral knee condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and bilateral hip condition to an examiner for an opinion on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected residuals of coccidioidomycosis.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all issues developed for appellate review, including service connection claims and a low back rating claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability with radiculopathy and bilateral knee/leg disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was reclassified as a right total knee replacement associated with traumatic arthritis, and he was assigned a 30 percent evaluation effective January 4, 2006. The criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating is granted for the symptomatic removal of cartilage in the right knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a separate evaluation for dislocated semilunar cartilage, but the overall rating for chondromalacia of the patella with productive changes remained at 10 percent.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for ulcer disease and higher ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of both knees, irritable bowel syndrome with cholecystectomy, hiatal hernia, and a history of gastritis, left hallux valgus with flexion deformities, right hallux valgus, and migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left knee and ankle disorders. The rating was increased from 30% to 20% for the right hip pain with atrophy of the right thigh and calf muscles.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, a hysterectomy, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions were related to her active military service.