Knee decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability and confirmed denial of a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as collateral ligament strain or tendonitis, originated during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right knee disorder, right leg pain and numbness, and right hip trochanteric bursitis all secondary to her service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees are being remanded due to a need for further development, including obtaining an additional VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of current disability related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hip, knee, chest, and back disorders due to a lack of medical evidence showing current disabilities or a link between any claimed injuries in service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 30% rating for left knee disorder should be March 3, 2000, but no earlier.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder secondary to his knee conditions, were granted. His claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his depressive disorder was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, neurologic disorder involving the lower extremities (including a sciatic nerve disorder), and chronic back disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found the preponderance of evidence against the veteran's claim for a combined rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability, as more than slight subluxation or instability was not shown and arthritis alone did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no current disability or evidence of a disease/injury incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service and are not secondary to any of his service-connected disabilities. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a stomach or liver disability, a disability manifested by pain in the upper and lower abdomen, and bursitis of the left knee. The appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective October 30, 2003. His meniscectomy and chondromalacia are separately evaluated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA medical examinations to address the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus, right knee injury, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, diagnosed as a right medial meniscus tear, is service-connected. The left knee disorder claim was not granted.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits was denied because he had overcome the effects of his service-connected disabilities by obtaining a college degree and long-term employment. The RO found that he did not have an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disorder, and a skin disorder (actinic keratoses). The veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.