Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have chronic sinusitis or a right knee disorder that is linked to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a residual scar proximal to the left ankle due to acute in-service left foot cellulitis. The back and bilateral knee injuries service connection claims have been rendered moot by an April 2003 rating decision that reopened but denied on the merits these claims.

The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current left knee condition to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right knee disorder with osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA orthopedic examination and consideration of whether a separate evaluation based on residuals of removal of the lateral meniscus should be granted.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the knees were granted service connection, with a non-compensable rating for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee instability warrants a rating of 20 percent, but his degenerative arthritis does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder and low back strain, finding no persuasive medical evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disorder or left elbow disorder related to service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right foot, ankle, and knee as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right second toe and fractured right third toe with hallux valgus. The claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the right second toe and fractured right third toe with hallux valgus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have major depression that is service-connected. However, his DJD of the left knee is rated at 10 percent since June 20, 1996.

The veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee conditions, as well as service connection for peptic ulcer disease. The RO must obtain all relevant medical records and provide the veteran with a new opportunity to present evidence in support of these claims.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral knee disability, neck pain, rectal bleeding (hemorrhoids), or left shoulder disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture and left knee injury do not warrant an increased evaluation as there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion or instability. The current 10 percent rating adequately compensates for his disabilities.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current right knee disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left ankle, right foot, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The VA examination did not diagnose any of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and vision disorder were denied. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination regarding service connection for low back, right knee, and right shoulder disorders.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae, and the veteran did not have residuals of his fractured left index finger or base of thumb that met the criteria for compensable ratings under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his knee disabilities and service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to his knee conditions.