Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for right knee arthritis, as there was no evidence of flexion limited to 15 degrees or less or any limitation of extension.

The Board denied service connection for left elbow, shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities as they were not related to the Veteran's service or secondary to his homocystine disease.

The Board remanded the case to obtain a more thorough medical examination addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has aggravated his left knee and low back disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee conditions, finding that the current 10 percent ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left medial malleolus fracture, and left knee disorder. The low back strain was rated at 40 percent from October 24, 2003, to November 11, 2003, but no higher thereafter.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating as of December 28, 2006, for right knee cartilage replacement based on degenerative arthritis, but denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the right knee cartilage replacement and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the scar.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for right and left ankle, hip, and knee disabilities, as well as a fungal infection of the ears. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and did not permanently increase in severity during his period of service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for left knee arthritis with limitation of extension, granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion, and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability.

The Board grants service connection for arthritis of the right knee as secondary to a service-connected left leg disability. Service connection for headaches is denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right foot condition, a left knee condition, and residuals of a pulled left shoulder muscle as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or any incident therein.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the hips, hands, and knees as well as panic disorder with agoraphobia due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis and instability of the right knee were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the preponderance of the competent medical and other evidence of record is against a finding that the Veteran's left knee disorder is causally related to active service, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 10 percent rating for a surgical scar of the right knee and the 60 percent rating for a right knee replacement, secondary to osteoarthritis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disability and denied increased ratings for cellulitis of both feet, left leg varicose veins, and other conditions.

The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and an attempt to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, a right hip condition, and a right leg condition as there was no evidence that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee and hip developed during or as a result of his active service. There was also no evidence showing that he had a right leg disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and low back pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The appeal for an increased rating for the left wrist disability was denied as the Veteran's current disability level did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.