Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee pain with a history of partial anterior cruciate ligament disruption, effective December 7, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected depressive disorder, left knee disabilities, and right knee disability. The decision also noted that the veteran had tinnitus but did not grant separate compensable evaluations for each ear.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and loss of the left testis, finding that the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The veteran's shell fragment wound to the left thigh and bullet wound to the right knee resulted in moderate muscle damage, which warrants a 10 percent evaluation for each condition. The scars from these wounds are not service-connected.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as there was no prior informal or formal claim filed before March 12, 1998. The evidence did not show that the veteran had been unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disorder related to his period of service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee chondromalacia did not warrant a higher disability rating, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied until May 8, 2001 when he received a 20% evaluation. His TDIU claim was granted effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee strain, finding that the evidence did not support a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hyperlipidemia with elevated cholesterol. The RO initially denied these claims in January 2000 but did not receive a timely appeal from them.

The veteran's service-connected residual scar of the right knee is rated at a 10 percent evaluation effective February 5, 2003. Prior to that date, he was not entitled to any compensation for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, knees, and hips all claimed as secondary to pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral metatarsalgia and TDIU due to a lack of objective evidence supporting significant disability related to his service-connected conditions, including pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral above-the-knee amputations as secondary to his service-connected valvular heart disease, finding that the amputations were due to his non-service connected peripheral vascular disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right ankle, and cervical spine disabilities. The claim of service connection for a right wrist injury was also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's increased rating claim for left knee instability, currently rated at 10 percent. The issue of extending a temporary total rating was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted for his back, right knee, or left ankle. The only diagnosed condition is a right ankle disability, but there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic disability.