Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, neurologic disorder involving the lower extremities (including a sciatic nerve disorder), and chronic back disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found the preponderance of evidence against the veteran's claim for a combined rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability, as more than slight subluxation or instability was not shown and arthritis alone did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no current disability or evidence of a disease/injury incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service and are not secondary to any of his service-connected disabilities. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a stomach or liver disability, a disability manifested by pain in the upper and lower abdomen, and bursitis of the left knee. The appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective October 30, 2003. His meniscectomy and chondromalacia are separately evaluated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA medical examinations to address the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus, right knee injury, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, diagnosed as a right medial meniscus tear, is service-connected. The left knee disorder claim was not granted.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits was denied because he had overcome the effects of his service-connected disabilities by obtaining a college degree and long-term employment. The RO found that he did not have an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disorder, and a skin disorder (actinic keratoses). The veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability, which he contends was caused by an in-service injury. The RO attempted to schedule the veteran for a VA examination but did not make special arrangements for an examination on Maui as requested. The Board has ordered that the veteran be provided with the appropriate examination in Maui and remands the case for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand condition, left shoulder condition, and right knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for residuals of a ruptured left Achilles tendon, finding that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disorder warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective from June 23, 1990. For his right knee disorder, the Board found no evidence of instability or arthritis and thus denied an increased rating prior to April 17, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritic changes at the metatarsal heads, and bilateral leg disability with degenerative joint disease of the knees are not service-connected.

The veteran's claim that the February 24, 1988 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous in reducing his disability rating for his service-connected right knee disorder from 10 percent to noncompensable (0 percent) is denied. The requirements for an effective date earlier than April 22, 1996 for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability are not met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims, including a determination on whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a prior rating decision reducing his disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a below-the-knee amputation, right leg, claimed as resulting from VA medical treatment in January 1999. The case has been remanded to obtain additional records and determine if VA negligence played a role.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for synovitis of the right knee and service connection for post-traumatic arthritis of the right hip secondary to his service-connected synovitis of the right knee.