Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have any current right or left knee conditions and that these conditions did not manifest during service. The Board concluded that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service, and thus no continuity of symptoms post-service to support the claims.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the ankles, knees, lumbar spine and shoulders as not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the veteran's left knee disorder from June 1, 2002 until November 1, 2004.

The veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the initial rating for his right hand disability was denied.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the veteran's low back disorder and right knee disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee hamstring strain have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic left knee disorder and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding no evidence of these conditions during his military service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder was incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The left knee disability is also found to be related to service, but further examination is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of knee injuries, as there was no medical evidence linking current disabilities to service. The Board concluded that arthritis could not be presumed due to its absence within one year after service.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing right knee condition that was aggravated by service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for disabilities of the ankles, knees, hips and back as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia. The veteran's disability rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia was increased to 50 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the veteran requests a personal hearing and scheduling if appropriate. The appeal is not about service connection for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, and increased evaluations for right knee degenerative arthritis and right shoulder scapula fracture with residual chronic right rhomboid muscle tendonitis were denied. The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disorder warrants a 40 percent disability rating under the old criteria, which is the highest available rating for severe limitation of motion. The other claims are not addressed as they do not meet the required criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen a claim for left shoulder disorder. Service connection was not established for right shoulder, low back, right leg, left leg, right knee, left knee cyst and iliotibial band syndrome, or disorders manifested by burning in the arches of the feet.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional examinations and development of her claims file. The issues include evaluations for systemic lupus erythematosus, right foot tarsal tunnel syndrome, low back strain, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action consistent with a joint motion of the parties.