Knee Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands and right knee is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disorder was not caused by any injury during his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability, effective August 10, 2001. The veteran's claim for service connection for limitation of extension was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, finding that there was no current diagnosis of such a condition and that any chronicity found in service did not result in a present disability.

The veteran's major depression is rated at 70 percent, his left knee disability at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable. The total unemployability claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a lack of original Social Security Administration (SSA) decision and supporting medical records, which may contain relevant information for the veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected injury to Muscle Group XV from gunshot wound warrants a 40 percent rating, and his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disorder or a disorder manifested by chest pain that began during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability and for service connection for a right knee disability that is secondary to his service-connected left knee. The decision found no evidence of a right knee disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective May 29, 2002. The rating takes into account the presence of arthritis and pain that limits flexion to no more than 30 degrees.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder and back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ganglion cyst of the right wrist, bilateral pes planus, and left knee strain. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder and bilateral knee conditions are not service-connected, but his asthma claim is reopened due to new evidence. The veteran's preexisting asthma was aggravated by military service.

The Board finds no present right knee disability and the evidence does not support service connection for a right knee disability, thus denying the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected residuals of fractured right wrist and left pubis rami, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent left shoulder strain and denied the veteran's claims for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for fractured ribs, right clavicle fracture, residuals of right knee arthrotomy, and stomach ulcers.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran had a left knee disorder prior to entering service and if it was aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication of issues related to service connection, including a knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration due to errors in notification regarding incarceration, which led to an overpayment. The veteran's compensation benefits were reduced upon his incarceration, resulting in a debt that was denied waiver.