Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hyperlipidemia with elevated cholesterol. The RO initially denied these claims in January 2000 but did not receive a timely appeal from them.

The veteran's service-connected residual scar of the right knee is rated at a 10 percent evaluation effective February 5, 2003. Prior to that date, he was not entitled to any compensation for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, knees, and hips all claimed as secondary to pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral metatarsalgia and TDIU due to a lack of objective evidence supporting significant disability related to his service-connected conditions, including pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral above-the-knee amputations as secondary to his service-connected valvular heart disease, finding that the amputations were due to his non-service connected peripheral vascular disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right ankle, and cervical spine disabilities. The claim of service connection for a right wrist injury was also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's increased rating claim for left knee instability, currently rated at 10 percent. The issue of extending a temporary total rating was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted for his back, right knee, or left ankle. The only diagnosed condition is a right ankle disability, but there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected residuals of a left knee injury, to include status post meniscectomy with degenerative changes, as there was no evidence showing limitation of motion, instability, or loss of strength or sensation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for a left knee disability and a low back disability. However, the claims were ultimately denied as there is no medical evidence showing these disabilities are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective April 1991.,Her right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the hips is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and a chronic bilateral knee disability are granted. The claim to reopen a previously denied skin disorder is also granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee and left hip arthritis are not related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied both claims.

The VA has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right foot hammertoes, effective from the date of claim on June 30, 1999.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining medical records from Ft. Sill and seeking opinions on whether the veteran's right knee disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for other claimed conditions are remanded for further development.