Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current knee or back disability is causally related to service-connected bilateral hammertoes.

The Board found no basis for awarding a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, as his flexion was limited to 45 degrees or less and extension was full.

The RO denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, bilateral ankle disability, schizophrenia, bilateral knee disability, and hip disability. The decisions became final as the appellant did not file a NOD.

The veteran's torn right medial meniscus with chondromalacia of the right patella, postoperative, is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The veteran's advanced degenerative osteoarthritic changes of the right knee are also rated at 10 percent. Both conditions have been found to be service-connected on a direct basis and do not involve any presumption or exposure basis.

The veteran's post-operative right knee residuals are currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling, but the VA examination is inadequate for rating purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, but denied an increased rating for the right knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, right knee disability, left knee disability, and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. However, the claims were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's incarceration and requests for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of reopening the claim for bilateral knee disability and increasing the rating for chipped bone of left thumb are pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for right knee sprain and service connection for tension headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating or service connection based on the current evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, chondromalacia of both knees, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's right knee disability has been granted a 30 percent evaluation, and the low back disorder is pending with a separate evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee instability and traumatic arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities, as well as ischemic heart disease, were denied by the Board. The evidence showed significant arterial stenosis in both legs and a history of claudication, but no specific service connection was made.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities to his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The VA granted the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of an ACL repair of the left knee and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective October 11, 2001.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability, but granted service connection for residuals of frozen feet.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's traumatic arthritis, left knee. Service connection was established for a low back disorder as secondary to the service-connected traumatic arthritis, left knee and for a right knee disorder also as secondary to the service-connected traumatic arthritis, left knee.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining treatment records and conducting further examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an automobile grant and/or adaptive equipment allowance or special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance (A&A).

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and is not secondary to a service-connected condition.,The Board has also determined that the veteran's left knee and left shoulder disorders were not incurred in service and are not secondary to any service-connected conditions.