Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and back disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities on which to base these claims.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized as osteoarthritis and meniscal injury, was rated at 20 percent effective July 2, 2001. The RO denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings prior to that date.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine and left leg/knee disability, both secondary to her service-connected left ankle sprain. The Board concluded that these conditions are not related to her service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability. The veteran's current depression is found to be proximately due to or the result of her service-connected endometriosis with a total hysterectomy. Ratings of 30% have been assigned for each knee disability.

The VA has granted a 20 percent evaluation for osteoarthritis of the left knee, effective August 31, 2000. The veteran's disability is currently rated as moderate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a left knee injury, and hypertension due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors and failure to establish a nexus between current disabilities and military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine. The conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Board found no evidence of a right hip, knee, or low back injury during service and insufficient post-service medical evidence to establish continuity of symptoms. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied as they are not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his right knee and low back disabilities, with the latter being secondary to the former. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the veteran's preexisting right knee disability was aggravated by military service.

The veteran's right knee disorder is now rated at 30 percent, effective from October 1, 2002. His low back disorder with spondylolisthesis remains at a 40 percent rating.

The case is being remanded for further development and a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 9, 1995 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as he failed to report without good cause.,The veteran's increased rating claim for PTSD was denied due to his failure to appear at a scheduled VA examination.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for the service-connected low back disability on and after January 15, 2003. The veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability, which includes limitation of flexion and extension, as well as recurrent instability. The other requested ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis, was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or due to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The hearing loss claim remains denied as there is no showing of hearing loss during or after service, nor can it be presumed due to noise exposure. The knee disorder claim was previously denied in 1947 but new evidence has been submitted that may support reopening the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, manifested by arthritis with pain on use and restricted flexion during flare-ups, does not warrant a higher evaluation as his range of motion is within normal limits for a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and denied his claim for an increased rating for dermatitis. The skin condition resulted in painful lesions affecting less than 5% of exposed areas, requiring only topical creams.