Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder, an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), degenerative arthritis of the low back, and peptic ulcer disease. The right hand disorder is not currently addressed as it was withdrawn from consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of recent VA examination and testimony indicating increased impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for flat feet, headaches, right and left knee disorders, or a low back disorder. The claims are denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and assigned noncompensable evaluations for the low back disability, but granted service connection for other conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for right knee strain with degenerative changes secondary to left knee post operative residuals of lateral manisectomy. The claim is now reopened.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of a previously denied claim were denied. His left shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent, his right knee disorder at 10 percent, and the neck disability claim was not reopened.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to the evaluation of the veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension, obesity, right hip disability, left hip disability, left foot disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability. The effective date of a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence following VA hospitalization in November 1996 is also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his renal cyst, hemorrhoids, and scars. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left elbow, and bilateral knee disorders. The RO found no medical evidence suggesting these conditions originated in service or were otherwise causally related to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. The other claims, including those for joint aches, skin rash, headaches, dizziness, Epstein-Barr virus, hypertension, hallux valgus (right great toe), right knee injury residuals, and low back disorder, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a left knee medial meniscectomy and arthritis of the right knee with retained foreign body, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and knees, finding no current diagnosis and noting conflicting medical findings.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee internal derangement did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation during the periods specified.

The veteran's case is being remanded for further development of his VA medical records and a de novo review based on the new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and tooth loss, finding no evidence of such disabilities being incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service.

The veteran's right thumb injury with metacarpophalangeal joint fusion and arthritis, as well as his left knee injury with reconstruction, are rated at 10 percent each.

The veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right below-the-knee amputation resulting from VA medical and surgical treatment provided in 1998 and 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the left knee, status post total knee replacement, and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the appellant's total right knee arthroplasty with history of arthritis and chronic synovitis with patellar dislocation postoperative reconstruction, effective from August 1, 2004.