Knee Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review. The issues of service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination is insufficient to make a determination on the claim and has ordered another examination. The veteran's left knee disability may be related to his in-service injury, but more evidence is needed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disabilities are still pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury (claimed as temporomandibular joint syndrome, with manifestations of neck pain and dizziness) due to new evidence. However, the claim remains denied because there is no medical evidence showing current disabilities or their relationship to service.,Service connection was not granted for the residuals of a bilateral knee injury as there is no medical evidence indicating such an injury occurred during active service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of left total knee replacement due to traumatic arthritis, currently rated at 30 percent.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee, status post meniscectomy.

The veteran's unauthorized medical treatment for right knee arthritis on April 20, 2002 was not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health. As a result, the claim for payment of these expenses is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and awarded an initial rating of 20 percent. The left knee disorder is not considered secondary to the right knee disability.

The veteran was granted an earlier effective date of July 10, 2000 for a 30 percent rating for chondromalacia of the right knee. The 30 percent rating is also restored from November 3, 2003.,Service connection for asbestos-related pleural disease was granted based on exposure to asbestos during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound of the left knee with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a direct link between the claimed conditions and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to military service or to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's right and left knee arthritis are found to be service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and balance problems, finding that these conditions are not related to his service-connected amputation of the left little toe.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service, including an episode of rheumatic fever during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right and left knee injuries, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination to determine the extent of the veteran's left knee disability. The RO will then review the claims folder based on a de novo review of all pertinent evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee and instability of the left knee, as these conditions are rated under a combined diagnostic code that takes into account both x-ray evidence of degenerative changes and resulting limitation of motion.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent for the arthritis and 10 percent for instability. The RO has granted a separate rating for instability but denied an increased rating for the arthritis.