Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the appellant's left knee disability, effective from September 19, 1996. The appeal regarding other issues is pending.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his right knee disability. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of right knee medial meniscectomy was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder secondary to his service-connected right leg disability, finding that there is no evidence supporting this claim.

The veteran's arthritis of the left knee and lumbosacral spine have been found to be aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting secondary service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The case is being remanded for further consideration, including a separate claim for service connection for right knee arthritis and an assessment of the veteran's post-meniscectomy right knee disability due to pain.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and adjudication on the merits due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of pain in the back, hips, knees, and ankles. The veteran's claims are related to service-connected varicose veins.

The Board found that the claim of service connection for a right knee disability is well grounded. The RO was instructed to schedule an orthopedic examination and consider applying VA regulations regarding service connection, evaluations, and staged ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities were not well grounded. The claim for an original compensable evaluation for a right ear hearing loss disability was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hip and left knee disabilities are not well grounded, as there is no credible evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and temporomandibular joint disability are not well-grounded because there is no medical evidence of a nexus between her current disabilities and her military service.

The Board found that the veteran's knee disability was not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability and scar have been granted increased evaluations.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the appellant's current hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease, or right knee disability to his military service. The claim for a back disability was reopened due to new and material evidence but the claim remains denied as there is insufficient evidence of in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hand disability was incurred during service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the veteran's current left knee disability and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder. The Board found that the veteran's bilateral pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by his military service. For the right knee and left knee disorders, the Board concluded that there was no competent medical evidence to support their incurrence or aggravation in service.

The veteran's service connection claim for a post traumatic right knee scar is granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee patellofemoral arthritis is well-grounded and requires further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and traumatic arthritis of the right knee. The current rating for the right knee is 30 percent, while the back disability remains at 40 percent.

The Board has found that new evidence received by the RO after the July 1999 SSOC should be considered, and a remand is ordered to allow for this development. The veteran's claims of service connection for right knee condition, PTSD, and back disorder are being reviewed.