Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability, secondary to the service-connected right knee disability. The issue of an increased rating for the right knee disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including knee disorders and a psychiatric disorder. The decision also denied an increased rating for hearing loss in the left ear.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to ensure compliance with VA's duties to notify and assist, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the veteran's septic arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining VA medical records and information from USASCRUR to verify alleged stressors. The appeal is currently remanded for this purpose.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for completion of requested development and consideration.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, finding that a 20 percent evaluation is not the maximum available.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee condition was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee disabilities have been granted, with a 30 percent evaluation effective from July 8, 1993, for the left knee and December 1, 1991, for the right knee.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 80 percent, with at least 40 percent of the disabilities pertaining to orthopedic issues. Medical opinions indicate he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a left wrist, left hip, right knee, or right ankle disability related to his service. The claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee and duodenal ulcer with hiatal hernia were also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation and TDIU were denied. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for shortness of breath. The decision found no current disability by medical diagnosis other than arthralgia, which was already granted.

The Board has determined that the current medical records do not definitively link the veteran's current shoulder, back, and knee disabilities to his in-service helicopter crash. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and foot disabilities, as well as prostatitis, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial rating in excess of the currently assigned disability ratings.

The Board has granted initial evaluations of 20 percent for left knee degenerative changes, right knee degenerative changes, tenosynovitis of the right ankle, and left ankle sprain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, back disability, and left knee arthritis. The temporary total rating beyond April 30, 2001, was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability is more likely than not related to his military service, thus granting service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and granted service connection for bilateral knee disorder. The veteran's claim for higher rating on his service-connected bilateral pes planus was also addressed, with the RO granting a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist, do not warrant higher disability ratings. The veteran's tinnitus was rated as 10 percent disabling prior to June 10, 2003, but no higher rating is warranted from that date forward. The veteran's right thumb fracture and bilateral Eustachian tube dysfunction are each rated at the minimum of 0 percent. The veteran's post-operative pilonidal cyst, right leg, and torn medial meniscus, right knee, are also rated at the minimum of 10 percent.

The veteran's knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, and the Board finds no basis to grant higher evaluations.