Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees secondary to her service-connected hallux valgus, as well as her requests for increased ratings for hallux valgus of both feet. The Board found that there was no evidence of degenerative joint disease of the knees and that the current evaluations for hallux valgus were appropriate given the lack of objective findings or symptoms.

The Board denied the claims for service connection and effective dates for various conditions, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in its decisions.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of May 1, 1996 for DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of her husband's death. The decision found that no new evidence was submitted and that the claim had not been appealed in a timely manner.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have well-grounded claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, neck, and back disorders. The claims are denied.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities was granted, with both knees now rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, status post tibial stress fractures are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of anxiety disorder with PTSD and traumatic arthritis of the left knee, as well as his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy were denied. The claim for service connection for dermatitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence received from the veteran's treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and vocational rehabilitation file.

The Board denied an increased rating for the appellant's right knee disorder and found no plausible service connection for his skin disorders claimed as residuals of Agent Orange exposure.,There is no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, or nexus to Agent Orange exposure for tinea versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, and actinic keratosis.

The Board denied the reduction of disability ratings for left knee disorder, left leg scar, and right shoulder disorder. The appeal also addressed whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim for PTSD.

The Board denied reopening and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety neurosis, and traumatic arthritis of the knees. The evidence submitted since the last denial was not considered new and material.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not well-grounded. The Board found that the scar in the right axillary area is residual to a surgical excision of an underarm growth incurred during wartime service, and granted service connection for this condition. However, the other claims for service connection were not well-grounded.

The veteran's right below-knee amputation with a defective stump is currently rated at 60 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation has been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's alcohol and drug abuse is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, warranting service connection. The left knee disorder claim was denied in August 1988 but reopened due to new evidence submitted.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the appellant's current right knee disorder to his service, specifically noting a lack of medical evidence connecting the 1979 injury during ACDUTRA with the present condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied. For the period prior to January 1, 2000, she received a compensable evaluation (20%) for her left knee disability. However, after failing to report for scheduled VA examinations and not attending subsequent hearings, the RO reduced her left knee disability rating from 10% to noncompensable effective January 1, 2000.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected due to injury sustained during active duty. However, there is insufficient evidence linking his current lumbosacral spine disability to service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a psychiatric disorder based on the lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty.