Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding medical records and a need for additional examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities. The evidence does not show a chronic disability in service or any current disability that is related to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation for laxity of the left knee. The evaluations for limitation of flexion and extension of the left knee remain at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, claimed as degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his residuals of a meniscectomy of the left knee and trichophytosis pedis, finding that the evidence did not warrant higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted a 40% evaluation for the service-connected low back disability, effective from April 1997.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a tubal ligation, right foot disability, and bilateral knee disability. The initial ratings for hypothyroidism, DM, and DDD of the lumbar spine are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disorder and therefore denied the claim.

The veteran's appeal is about the evaluation of his right knee injury and whether the effective date for an increased disability rating was based on clear and unmistakable error. The case must be remanded to schedule a hearing before a traveling Member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet VA disability criteria and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The other issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, acquired pes planus, and chronic headaches secondary to PTSD were also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee and degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the back, finding that there is no current disability in these conditions and that they are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, and back disability. The claim for right knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The dental disability claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee disorder or left knee disorder as a result of service. The stress fractures in his tibia are resolving and do not cause significant impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain had its origins in service and granted service connection for this condition. The right knee disorder was not addressed due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including low back pain and bilateral knee disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and secondary service connection for a back disability. As such, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The veteran claims service connection for arthritis of the left knee, hands, elbows and ankles as secondary to his service-connected bursitis of the right knee. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to incomplete medical records and requests an addendum from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder disorder, and chronic headaches are service-connected. The respiratory, sinus, and knee disorders have not been established as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.