Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for arthralgia of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not support an increased rating under VA disability rating criteria.

The Board found no causal relationship between the veteran's active duty service and his current left knee disorder, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD and compensable evaluations for his right knee disorder, residuals of a fracture of the right ankle, residuals of fractures of the little finger and index finger of the left hand are denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and an increased rating for thrombophlebitis of the right lower extremity, but denied compensation under Section 1151 for metastatic cancer of the left hand.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased evaluation, but granted a 20 percent evaluation for low back strain with right sacroiliac radiculopathy effective July 2, 1999.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for post-operative residuals, arthroscopy and medial menscectomy, left knee with chronic synovitis and chondromalacia. A separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities do not warrant an increased evaluation as they are currently manifested by slight to moderate impairment, without evidence of instability or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability was incurred during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthralgia of the right and left knees were incurred during his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and back disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities were denied. The right knee was rated at 10 percent, the left knee instability at 20 percent, and traumatic arthritis at 10 percent.

The Board denied entitlement to increased schedular ratings for postoperative residuals of a right knee impairment and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The claim for an extraschedular evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the left hip from September 30, 1992 was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's left knee disability is service-connected as a result of his right knee disability. His degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted with a rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and the increased evaluation claims for residuals of a gunshot wound of the left groin and shell fragment wounds of the knees. The veteran's current headache complaints are not related to his military service, and he was last examined by VA in 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability was increased to a 30 percent evaluation, and he was granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The case also addressed his claim for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current right knee disability that began during active military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's right knee laxity, effective from August 14, 2003. The limitation of motion remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C, right ear hearing loss, and left knee disability claims require additional evidence and examination to determine their etiology and severity.