Knee decisions — 2005

The VA has denied service connection for the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disabilities and sleep disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for varicose veins of the left leg and osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right leg.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee injury and granted service connection for residuals of a left thoracic area gunshot wound, rated at 20 percent. The veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a left knee shell fragment wound, which was previously denied in November 1989. The veteran's statements regarding his combat experience at Iwo Jima are sufficient to establish the incurrence of the shrapnel wound.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current left knee disability, including arthritis, that was initially manifested during his active duty for training. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and hip disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely file a Substantive Appeal regarding his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a dental disability caused by VA treatment, and thus lacks jurisdiction to review this issue. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for psoriatic arthritis of the left thumb, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee were denied as they did not meet the criteria for the assigned rating levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with calluses, arthritis of the left shoulder, and arthritis of both knees. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus denied both claims for secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection were denied. The RO found that the right knee disability did not warrant a higher rating, and there was no evidence linking his cervical spine or left hip conditions to his service-connected right knee condition.

The veteran's TDIU rating was granted with an effective date of June 19, 2000. The claim for increased ratings for his knee and back disabilities were previously denied in October 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which includes degenerative changes, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and leg disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor is it proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, hypertension, and IBS. The initial evaluations were assigned based on the severity of each condition.

The Board granted service connection for left elbow epicondylitis, but denied service connection for right knee. The veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence provided by the appellant.

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury and insufficient supporting documentation to establish service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative joint disease and loss of flexion, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for an increased rating for loss of extension remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.