Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral heel and foot problems, left knee disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected knee conditions do not warrant an increased rating as they are currently evaluated.

The Board found no current medical evidence of a left knee disorder or bilateral wrist disorder. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's TMJ dysfunction was initially rated at 20 percent, effective June 15, 2000. The right knee disorder was initially rated at 10 percent, also effective June 15, 2000. Both conditions were subsequently increased to their current ratings.

The veteran's hiatal hernia with duodenitis is not rated higher than 10%.,Both knees have been granted a 10% evaluation for patellofemoral syndrome, and the right shoulder has been denied a compensable evaluation for impingement syndrome.

The veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of service connection for recurring chest pains, a positive PPD converter reading, and a left knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and supraumbilical hernias, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The appellant's current conditions are not shown to be related to her active duty service.

The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, effective September 1996. The current rating is based on limitation of motion/painful motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee or low back disability and finds that any such disabilities are less likely related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, and right hip disability. The decision found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus, finding no evidence linking the current conditions to his active duty.

The Board found that the reduction of disability ratings for low back pain with spondylolisthesis, hypertension, and left knee arthralgia with crepitus was proper based on clinical evidence showing improvement in the veteran's condition.

The veteran's appeal involves claims for increased disability ratings for PTSD, a left knee disability, and TDIU. The Board has ordered additional development to be completed in order to properly evaluate these claims.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from September 18, 1992. The issue of service connection for a back disability secondary to the right knee disorder is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20% evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for the post-operative residuals of a total right knee replacement but granted service connection and assigned a separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, initial compensable evaluation for sinusitis, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes, and separate evaluations for bilateral knee degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied secondary service connection for a back disorder and denied an increased rating for the service-connected right knee disability.