Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee and degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the back, finding that there is no current disability in these conditions and that they are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, and back disability. The claim for right knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The dental disability claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee disorder or left knee disorder as a result of service. The stress fractures in his tibia are resolving and do not cause significant impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain had its origins in service and granted service connection for this condition. The right knee disorder was not addressed due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including low back pain and bilateral knee disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and secondary service connection for a back disability. As such, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The veteran claims service connection for arthritis of the left knee, hands, elbows and ankles as secondary to his service-connected bursitis of the right knee. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to incomplete medical records and requests an addendum from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder disorder, and chronic headaches are service-connected. The respiratory, sinus, and knee disorders have not been established as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities, with a combined rating of 20 percent.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the service-connected right knee disability, which is higher than the requested increase. The veteran's condition includes asymptomatic scarring with slight right calf atrophy and traumatic arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic disability resulting from inservice dysentery, dengue fever, or injuries to his right great toe, ankles, knees, or pes planus. The service medical records do not show any such conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for a VA examination and consideration of all evidence.

The VA denied increased ratings for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of both right and left knees, currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation for residuals of fracture, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritic changes. The combined evaluations meet the criteria established under VA regulations.

The veteran was granted initial compensable ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as lumbosacral strain from October 30, 2002 to May 17, 2004.,From May 18, 2004 onwards, he was granted initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and right knee injury, finding no evidence of current disability related to his period of active duty.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's right knee disability, including his ACL and meniscus repair as well as postoperative scars, is currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating. The RO has granted service connection for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the veteran's military service.