Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for stress fractures and joint pain of the lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for his right hip replacement, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The appeals were based on direct evidence of a causal relationship to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, right knee disorder, and low back disorder are being remanded to allow for additional development of the medical records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and bilateral foot disorders have been denied as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder. The claims of service connection for bilateral knee and hip disorders are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the propriety of reduction in ratings for shoulder disabilities were denied. The RO increased the rating for right knee chondromalacia patella to 20 percent, confirmed a 10 percent evaluation for left knee chondromalacia patella, and reduced the evaluations for each shoulder disability from 20 to 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from a bilateral hand disability and denied his claim for service connection. The RO is instructed to provide VCAA notice, obtain all relevant medical records, and request information regarding work loss due to knee disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's lower back and right knee disorders are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability and hypertension do not warrant higher ratings as the evidence does not show more than the current assigned evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical arthritis, left knee disability (arthritis), short-term memory loss, and rashes and sores (folliculitis).,There is no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disability related to his period of active duty, and thus service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the instability of the left knee has resulted in a separate 10 percent evaluation. The veteran's GERD is not compensable.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board found no evidence to support the appellant's claim that his current disabilities, including depression and skin disorders, were caused by VA treatment on March 1, 1999. The medical records do not indicate a causal link between the surgery performed in 1999 and the appellant's current conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, finding no evidence of current disability and noting that the December 2003 VA examination found no limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's service-connected disability, residuals of fracture of the right femur with right leg shortening and degenerative joint disease of the right knee and right hip, is manifested by subjective complaints of pain, but no additional functional limitation due to fatigue, weakness, or incoordination. The RO denied an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee injury and right knee disorder, finding that the evidence does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent for the left knee or 20 percent for the right knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his range of motion is within normal limits and he does not have instability or effusion.