Knee decisions — 2002

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury. The claims for stomach disorder and hemorrhoids were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing an etiological relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was incurred during active service and is granted service connection.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected post traumatic arthritis of the right knee. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination and review of all relevant evidence, is necessary before this claim can be decided.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased evaluation for residuals of left femur fracture and the effective date prior to June 12, 2000.

The Board denied service connection for left hip and groin pain, including as secondary to an undiagnosed illness, and a knee disability. The evidence did not show the presence of chronic disabilities or their relationship to service.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine, left shoulder calcific tendonitis, and right knee disabilities has been granted. The highest evaluation available under the appropriate rating code (60 percent) is assigned for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for DJD of the left knee with a rating of 10 percent effective from August 24, 2000. The veteran's claim was reopened based on new medical evidence submitted in January and December 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current arthritis of both knees originated in service and granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and chronic sexually transmitted diseases (claimed as herpes and genital warts), finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is related to her service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from a right knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from the date of the claim. The issue of service connection for right leg shortening is also addressed.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent evaluations for service-connected chondromalacia of the right and left knees, as well as for service-connected greater trochanteric bursitis of the hips.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable original rating for his left knee disability and bilateral bunions. The claim for a compensable rating pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based upon multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was dismissed.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability and awarded an effective date of September 29, 2000. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the low back disability is pending.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU. The claim of service connection for hypertension is denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in service.

The Board denied higher initial evaluations for early, mild degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees as there was no evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and the veteran's complaints were not supported by objective findings.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and a back condition, finding that the veteran's conditions were not caused by his service-connected right knee replacement.