Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's post-operative meniscectomy, right knee with synovitis and assigned a separate 10 percent rating for the synovitis. The maximum available rating of 10 percent is already in place for the meniscectomy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left leg disorder and back disorder, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, and status post anterior cruciate ligament repair of the right knee are not shown to be more than mild or moderate in degree. The Board finds that there is no basis for granting compensable evaluations for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and denied the claim for an increased initial rating for right knee injury.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left elbow and knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the left elbow disability or a rating in excess of 40 percent for the left knee disability. The Board also found no evidence to support a determination of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right knee injury, fracture of the right foot, and fracture of the right sternum and second rib.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and an increased rating for left knee disability based on lateral instability are pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable evaluations for various foot and knee disabilities, finding no evidence of current disability coincident with his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, right ankle disorder, low back strain, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, postoperative residuals of reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligaments of the left ankle with traumatic arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or hypertension. The veteran's service-connected disabilities are already in effect for his left knee and left ankle disorders.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of February 9, 1990 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on unemployability due to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and cataracts, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied due to failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and a search for his current address.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee disability and otitis externa were incurred during service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that any current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee disability and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service, nor are they otherwise related to such service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, left fifth finger, and right knee disabilities. The right shoulder disability was rated as noncompensable due to painful range of motion with crepitus. The left fifth finger disability did not meet criteria for a compensable rating under current VA guidelines. The right knee disability received a 10 percent initial rating.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for the veteran's right knee patellar tendonitis and denied any increase in his left knee patellar tendonitis.