Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the knees, and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities and service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to his knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by recurrent dislocation and muscle atrophy, is rated as 20 percent disabling for instability. Additionally, the arthritis of the left knee warrants a separate 10 percent rating.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including presyncopal episodes, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development of the medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU due to service-connected conditions. The RO has not yet issued a statement of the case regarding the denial of service connection for Hepatitis C.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have degenerative joint disease of the knees and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, osteoarthritis of the hips, and osteoarthritis of the knees as these conditions were not shown to be related to active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations of tendinitis of the left knee and chondromalacia of the right knee, both rated at 10 percent since November 19, 1997.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and granted this claim. The Board also found that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his Vietnam service, which allows him to have his reported stressors accepted as true without further verification.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disorder, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than the current 30 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, finding that these conditions are proximately due to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing in connection with the veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right thigh and knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and review of evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including schizophrenia, knee issues, tinnitus, and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to TDIU have been met.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right elbow disability and bilateral knee disability as secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease due to lack of objective medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of retropatellar pain syndrome in either knee, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain, left knee chondromalacia, and coccyx injury are currently rated at the minimum compensable levels. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is warranted for his cervical spine strain.