Knee Board decisions

The veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations, and the evidence does not support increased ratings or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board reopened the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and a bilateral ankle condition, but denied the requests to reopen claims for service connection for anxiety neurosis, hysteria, and a bilateral foot condition.

The veteran's reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremities is aggravated by his service-connected residuals of surgical removal of osteochondroma of the left knee. The veteran's residuals of a surgical scar of the left knee and residuals of fractures of the 3rd and 5th fingers of the right hand do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.

The appeal of the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 13, 2003 for additional compensation for a dependent child based on school attendance was denied.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) in both knees and a right hand disorder, but denied an increased rating for the status post compression fracture of T12 and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left fourth finger.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture to the right lateral malleolus do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's left knee disability was rated as noncompensable for instability and limitation of motion, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the latter.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back strain, to include as secondary to his service-connected shell fragment wound scars of the right flank, abdomen, and back.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's knee and hip disabilities.

The veteran's left and right knee disabilities each meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating based on limitation of flexion and extension.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back, cervical spine, and PTSD were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his service. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities and scars do not warrant higher disability ratings, and the veteran does not have a current groin, right hip, or left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for left knee and shoulder conditions, and TDIU were denied as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or a link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his left knee condition did not warrant a higher rating and that there was no evidence of a low back disorder related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis as it was not shown to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for cardiovascular disease, to include hypertension, was denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's current hypertension and his active military service or any period of ACDUTRA during Reserve service.

The appeal is remanded to verify the veteran's periods of active military service and obtain any additional service treatment records.

The veteran's residuals of a left femur fracture do not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee conditions, as well as arthritis in those knees, for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral knee disability as there was no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.