Knee decisions — 2005

The Board found no current disability of bilateral knee or ankle disorders, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability and PTSD, and did not address the initial rating claims. The veteran's current symptoms of knee and foot disabilities are related to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his bilateral knee disability claim and service connection for PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence, and because there was no credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral foot disability, back disability, or left knee disability related to active service. The numbness of the right arm is also not considered secondary to a service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for her service-connected left knee disability and denied her claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking the current right knee disability to her service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, right acetabulum, left acetabulum, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities, and remands the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for schizophrenia, hemorrhoids, and a disability of the right wrist. The issues of service connection for knees, right foot, and head injury were also addressed but are pending in the remand portion.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and adjudication of the veteran's claims, including obtaining a comprehensive VA medical opinion and addressing additional secondary service connection claims.

The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to September 24, 2001 that the veteran's PTSD had increased in severity or that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied service connection for neck disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hemorrhoids. Service connection was granted for a disorder of the left hand finger due to frostbite.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from caring for his daily personal needs and do not render him unable to protect himself from the hazards of daily living. The appellant is not substantially confined to his house or immediate premises as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, arthritis of the knees, and a right leg length discrepancy. The Board also denied an increased rating for left ankle disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a skin disorder, including pruritus ani are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee and left knee instability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for instability of the left knee from May 6, 2000 to July 27, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's joint pain, including in his right knee, is not service-connected due to lack of objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current symptoms and examination findings.