Knee decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities and hemorrhoids, finding that the conditions did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, increased evaluations for left knee injury with chronic patellar tendonitis, and headaches. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a sinus disorder or bilateral knee disorder, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for arthritis of the left knee, residuals of a fracture of the cervical spine, and weakness and atrophy of the right arm and hand. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated as 20 percent, 30 percent, and 40 percent respectively.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder and respiratory disorder, to include asthma, are related to his military service. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and right knee, finding that these conditions are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected postoperative osteochondroma of the left femur.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain warrants a 60 percent rating, and his left and right knee disabilities each warrant a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a sprained right knee and arthritis of the right knee, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher disability ratings based on current medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current chronic left knee disability, other than a service-connected scar. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The veteran's left knee injury and stress incontinence were found to be service-connected, but the evaluations assigned for both conditions are noncompensable.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder, which is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257 (recurrent subluxation or lateral instability), does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as there was no indication of severe impairment. The highest schedular rating under this code is 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal for service connection and a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for the right knee disorder is still pending.

The RO denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, as they determined he was not unemployable.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including left knee and varicose veins. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a compensable level of disability warranting an initial rating higher than the currently assigned evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right knee disability, finding that it did not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent.

The Board denied reopening and service connection for Osgood Schlatter's disease of the left knee, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and feet, a bilateral shoulder disability, and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support the veteran's assertions that his current conditions were related to his military service.