Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, and right knee disabilities as well as an increased evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the right femur.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for a right knee disorder, service connection for hepatitis and foot and heel disorders, as well as blood in urine. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for hepatitis.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right sacroiliac joint tenderness with a history of low back strain, bilateral pes planus, chondromalacia of the left knee, and chondromalacia of the right knee.

The veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his need for aid and attendance and housebound status due to the right below the knee amputation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back and knee injuries, as well as cellulitis. The evidence submitted since the last final decision did not provide new or material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability warrants a rating of 60 percent from March 24, 1992 to April 25, 1993. The claim for an increased rating beyond this period remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and for consideration of the appellant's claims under the theory of undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and osteoarthritis of the knees. The claim for hemorrhagic fever was reopened but not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and low back pain. The veteran was also denied an increased evaluation for flatfeet.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a left knee arthrotomy, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether separate ratings are warranted for the veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The appeal is currently in process.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from March 22, 1996. The effective date remains November 24, 1987.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as severe chondromalacia patella and including residuals of patellar tendon ruptures and fractures of the interior poles of the patellae, is related to his knee problems treated during active service. As such, the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder has been granted.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for the appellant's service-connected residuals of right ankle fracture and denied his claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle disorders.

The veteran's claims for secondary service connection have been denied as not well grounded. The RO is required to obtain the names and addresses of all medical care providers who treated the veteran for his disabilities of the left lower extremity since the VA examination in June 1999, and to provide a VA examination by an appropriate specialist to determine the nature and extent of his service connected disabilities of the left lower extremity. The RO must also review the claims file and ensure that all notification and development action required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it, finding that there is equipoise in the evidence regarding which knee was injured during service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of a head injury. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and increased evaluations for his left knee disability. The decision found no current right knee disability, and denied service connection on both direct and secondary bases. For the left knee disability, the Board granted a 20% rating effective from September 3, 1996.