Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as a wrist disability, were denied by the Board. The RO has notified the veteran of the evidence needed to substantiate his claim, and has obtained all necessary evidence.

The VA denied an increased rating for chronic synovitis of the left knee, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, temporomandibular joint disease with headaches, and a left knee disorder. The claim for reopening his bilateral foot disorder was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and continued the current ratings for otitis media (0 percent) and left knee disability (30 percent). The claim for increased rating of left knee disability was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and appendectomy residuals. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims on the merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any chronic disabilities involving his wrists, hands, right leg, left knee or low back that were incurred during service. The VA examiner found no significant objective disability in these areas and concluded there was no service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected scars have been rated as noncompensable. The RO has now granted a 10 percent evaluation for the scar residuals of the left upper arm and forearm, effective from November 29, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee arthritis and left ankle strain, finding that there was no evidence of a service-connected disability causing or aggravating these conditions. The highest rating assigned was 10% for each condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was not established, while the knee and eye disabilities received appropriate evaluations.

The veteran's right knee disability, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus, was productive of moderate instability and pain during the period from March 23, 2002 to January 30, 2003. A 20 percent rating is granted for this time frame.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 16, 2001 for his TDIU due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he was unemployable prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion with pain and productive functional loss, warrants a 10 percent rating from May 29, 2001.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee is presumed to have been sound at the time of entry into service and that right knee symptoms were in fact manifested during his service. The current chronic degenerative joint disease of the right knee is found to be causally related to the inservice right knee symptoms, warranting service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, headaches, and low back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's knee and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic disability in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his left knee, lower back pain, and ankle disorders was denied. The issues involving service connection were not addressed.,For the postoperative residuals of the left knee with degenerative changes, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 12, 2000 and on and after that date is not warranted.

The veteran's right knee disability, manifested by moderate instability, is currently rated at 20 percent for recurrent lateral instability of the right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her service-connected neck injury, right knee pain, and pes planus. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for her residuals of a neck injury.

The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total disability rating beyond November 1, 1995 following his August 1995 right knee surgery was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such extension.