Knee decisions — 2002

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his right wrist tendonitis, traumatic cataract of the right eye (from October 16, 1991 through November 19, 2000), and a right knee disability were denied. The initial 10% evaluation for right wrist tendonitis was upheld, while the 30% evaluation for the right eye condition from November 20, 2000 to the present is also upheld.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability or right hip disability distinct from his service-connected fibromyalgia. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee with arthritis and residuals of right knee injury with arthritis are both rated at 30 percent, effective April 18, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed shoulder and knee disorders, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right knee disorder and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective December 15, 1994. Service connection for a low back disability was established and rated at 60 percent effective the same date. The right knee disability received an increased rating to 10 percent in November 1996. The veteran's loss of use claim and adaptive equipment request were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee or leg condition is not related to his service-connected right knee tenosynovitis and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected right knee disorder is being remanded due to the inextricability of his disability ratings based on right knee instability and arthritis.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TDIU claim was granted with a 20% rating.

The VA denied an increased rating for right knee instability and a higher initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The veteran's conditions were rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or exposure basis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for depression, finding that the veteran's current left knee pain is related to his military service, but not finding any link between his current depression and his service-connected condition.

The Board granted an increased evaluation for the appellant's service-connected left knee disability to a 60 percent rating and denied his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 60 percent for spondylolisthesis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for osteochondritis dissecans, left ankle talus and denied an increased rating for post-traumatic arthritis, left knee.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his low back and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right ankle condition was aggravated by service, and granted service connection for synovitis and arthritis of the right ankle. The veteran is also rated as having a hiatal hernia, bilateral otitis media, left knee disorder, and lower back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disability, and thus denied all three claims for service connection.