Knee decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's multiple joint pain is not due to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness such as fibromyalgia, and has been attributed to known clinical diagnoses. As such, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability other than instability, which is manifested by painful motion and severely limiting flare-ups causing mild to severe functional impairment.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability, currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence did not show that the condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis A, B, and C, as well as disabilities of the left knee and shoulders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the current right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus granted service connection for residuals of a right knee injury.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed low back disability with left leg pain, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and unspecified soft tissue complaints of the stomach, leg, and hand due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claims were found not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they otherwise related to such service. The claim for headaches is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee ligament strain superimposed on chondromalacia, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and an increased rating for PTSD. The Board found that no pre-existing bilateral knee disorder was noted at entrance into active service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness.

The Board denied the veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's left knee replacement and complications, including a left femur fracture, are not the result of VA carelessness or negligence.

The veteran's left knee disability, which includes a history of medial meniscectomy and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 40 percent for the veteran's left knee disorder, which includes a 30 percent rating for instability and a 10 percent rating for arthritis with limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, but denied an increased evaluation for his right knee disorder.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a pulmonary embolus, played a material causal role in his death. Accrued benefits for TDIU are granted based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities during the last two years of his life.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability, found service connection for COPD not well grounded, and denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable rating to the veteran's left knee, which he has appealed. The RO subsequently assigned a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability. The Board also found that the veteran's posttraumatic osteoarthritis is related to his service.