Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees was incurred in active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various undiagnosed illness-related symptoms, did not meet the criteria for service connection or an increased rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities associated with his claimed conditions of right knee disorder, vision loss, bilateral hearing loss, or bronchitis. Therefore, he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left rib fracture, right knee injury, third degree burns on the hands and face, laceration of the chin, tumor on the right side of the rib cage, chronic respiratory disability, cardiovascular renal disease (hypertension), tinnitus, musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and neck, and chronic stomach pain. The decisions are final based on evidence from service records.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to abandonment of his claim by failing to respond to VA correspondence over a period of years.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and back disabilities are attributable to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right knee disability claim before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of right ankle fracture, and a 10 percent rating for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's posttraumatic arthritis of the left knee, residuals of torn medial meniscus, and status postoperative left knee arthroscopies and left high tibial osteotomy are etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, it was found that the left hip condition is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability. The veteran's claims for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only, as well as specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, are still pending.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's left hip and left knee disabilities, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned for each condition.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation of 20% for instability of the right knee, in addition to the current 10% rating for chronic anterior cruciate ligament tear.

The Board has determined that the veteran became entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of June 5, 1989. The effective date for this award is set at June 5, 1989.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the service-connected left knee disability and found that the veteran's right knee disorder is secondary to his left knee disability, extending benefits based on aggravation.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability (chronic ankle sprain) and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was rated at 10%.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability from January 19, 1994 through March 17, 1994.

The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by severe degenerative arthritis and instability, has been rated at 20 percent since February 2002.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and earlier effective dates for his service-connected right ankle synovitis and myofascial pain syndrome of the upper back. The denial was based on lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disorder related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder is not due to service and therefore denied his claim.