Knee Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral vascular disease and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed disabilities, including back, left knee, right ankle, and right wrist disabilities. The service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and glaucoma are not service-connected as they were not present during his period of active military service or for many years thereafter.

The Board found that the veteran's Behcet's Syndrome does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there was no evidence of exacerbations lasting at least a week and occurring twice a year or more. The current 10 percent evaluation is appropriate based on the objective medical records.

The RO denied service connection for a right knee disorder due to the absence of an apparent disease on VA examination in August 1963. The veteran's claim was subsequently reopened and granted service connection, but with a rating of 10 percent effective September 14, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, as there is no evidence of chronic orthopedic abnormalities in his knees during active duty. The veteran's current bilateral knee disorders are believed to be related to post-service medical treatment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to concerns with the state of medical findings regarding his right and left knee, foot, and hand disorders.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each for instability and subluxation. The RO has granted separate evaluations of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis in both knees, effective May 11, 2001.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee and denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee as secondary to service-connected Osgood-Schlatter's disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee instability and arthritis do not warrant higher initial ratings, as the maximum rating available for instability (30%) has already been assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of both knees, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine if the veteran's right knee replacement and right shoulder impingement syndrome are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability. The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is also found to be related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic sinus disorder, but did find service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with retropatellar click and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee. The veteran's bilateral hand disorder was not found to be related to service. Cluster headaches were rated at 30% under old criteria, while the residual scar from appendectomy was rated at 10% under both old and amended skin disorders criteria.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for albuminuria. The Board dismissed this appeal as a result.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, right knee and leg disorders, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The reasons are that there is no evidence of these conditions during service or a link to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical disc herniation with spondylosis and radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The VA found that the veteran's conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The VA determined that the veteran's combined disability rating of 50 percent does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, as none of them are rated at least 40 percent disabling and do not combine to reach 70 percent.