Knee decisions — 2005

The RO has granted a combined rating of 30 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, which includes separate ratings for instability and arthritis. The case is remanded to clarify this determination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as depression and fatigue. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including frostbite of the hands and feet, hypertension, a right shoulder disability, a back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, pes planus, residuals of a foot fracture, tailbone disability, diabetes mellitus, and glaucoma. The decision was based on the conclusion that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for frostbite of the hands and feet, and that these conditions were not incurred in service or due to any other service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining SSA disability determination and medical records, and readjudicating both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability, finding that the effective date should not be earlier than July 19, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and a back disorder secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities, finding that he did not meet the eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement. The issue of direct service connection is moot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability is no more than 10 percent disabling, and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for evaluation of his service-connected right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability, but did not address the claims for bilateral ankle disability and residuals of a head injury.,New evidence received since the last denial does not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims for bilateral ankle disability and residuals of a head injury. The Board denied these claims on the merits.

The veteran's right and left knee disorders have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the decision. The PTSD claim is remanded to the RO for further action.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a 100% rating for femur fracture residuals and a 30% rating for major depression, do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The veteran's right knee ligament and meniscus tears are currently rated at 20 percent. Service connection for a left knee disorder is pending due to lack of evidence supporting it as a separate issue from the current claims.

The veteran's arthritis of the knees, toes, and left ankle was not incurred or aggravated by service. The RO denied his claims for increased rating for right ankle disability and pension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his groin injury with right femoral nerve impingement and left knee patellofemoral malalignment syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disorder, characterized as degenerative joint disease of the left knee, is denied. The effective date cannot be earlier than October 18, 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 20, 2002, for a grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran is not entitled to financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, nor is he eligible for specially adapted housing or home adaptations.