Knee decisions — 2003

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee and internal derangement of the right knee.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability. The veteran's migraine headaches are not currently shown, but his left knee disability is found to be related to service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected lumbar spine sprain, but denied increased evaluations for patellar tendonitis of both knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, effective from November 29, 2001. His bilateral knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding no competent medical evidence of a chronic condition during or after service.

The veteran's service-connected right leg amputation and left shoulder condition do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation due to loss of use of one upper extremity (left) and one lower extremity (right).

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellar tendinitis warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it is manifested by subjective complaints of pain and objective evidence of patellar tenderness and patellofemoral grind. The preponderance of the evidence does not support an increased rating.

The veteran's left knee arthritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The right knee disability, including the total knee replacement and associated complications, has been rated at 40 percent since July 1999.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claimed left ankle disability, service-connected shell fragment wounds of the left upper and lower thigh with myofascial pain syndrome, and shrapnel wound of the left knee are not proximately due to or the result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting Osgood-Schlatter's disease and bilateral knee tendonitis did not worsen during service, and his current arthritis of the knees is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including blurred vision and arthritis of multiple joints, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not show a link between any current disabilities and active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a traumatic right leg injury, finding that there is no evidence of such an injury during his active military duty and concluding that any current degenerative joint disease of the right knee did not begin in or was aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, residuals of removal of the spleen, sterility (presumed secondary to a service-connected condition), and right wrist disability. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral knee disability and denied all other claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been granted, with the left knee receiving a 20% rating effective October 27, 1988. A separate 10% evaluation has also been assigned for arthritis of the right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability and service connection for chronic rhinitis. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service, including exposure to poisonous gases.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is causally related to an injury sustained on July 18, 1993, while on active duty for training. As a result, service connection for a left knee disability is granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a grant for automobile allowance as they do not include loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that new evidence did not establish a nexus between current knee conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran was entitled to an extension of a temporary total convalescent rating for his left knee disability from June 1, 1999, through September 22, 1999. The claim is denied as being without legal merit beyond this period.