Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current clinically established bilateral knee disorder and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. Therefore, service connection for left and right knee disabilities is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and herniated nucleus pulposus with spondylolysis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for higher ratings.

The claim for an increased rating for traumatic synovitis of the right knee is being remanded due to a lack of recent treatment records and examination reports.

The veteran's knee disability was not rated higher than the assigned noncompensable and 10 percent ratings for the periods specified. For the period from November 18, 1996 to March 12, 2003, the knee did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent due to limitation of motion with pain. From March 13, 2003 to the present, the knee disability was rated as 20 percent disabling based on moderate limitation of motion and instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the schedular criteria did not meet the requirements for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, left knee ligament laxity, and arthritis of the left knee with chondromalacia were denied. The claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee arthritis, status post arthrotomy and medial meniscus excision warrants a 20 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his claims.

The veteran's case is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the M&ROC. The issues of service connection for synovitis of both knees, hands, left hip, and low back are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tendonitis of the knees. The issue of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for scoliosis of the cervicothoracic spine with radiculopathy of the shoulders and wrist is remanded due to need for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and has denied his claim.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability and found that a timely substantive appeal was not filed regarding his claim for TDIU.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee, post lateral and medial meniscus tears, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities or chronic residuals from the veteran's in-service right hand and right knee injuries, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran's right knee meniscectomy and arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent, with no separate rating for arthritis. The tinea pedis with dystrophic toenails is not more than 10 percent disabling.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, including postoperative residuals and degenerative joint disease, warrants a 10 percent evaluation. The scar on his knee is rated separately at 10 percent.

The Board has ordered the RO to schedule an orthopedic examination for the veteran and determine if her current bilateral knee disability is related to service. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disorder or degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, and thus service connection is denied.