Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such assistance due to his current service-connected disabilities. However, he is eligible for adaptive equipment only.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee, ankle, and epididymitis disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions, including residuals of shell fragment wounds to the legs and head, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and fracture of the right radius, were not incurred or aggravated in service. The appeal is denied.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the veteran's current left ankle disability is related to his service-connected ganglion cyst removal. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a pre-existing left knee disability and that any potential left knee disability is not related to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right hip disorders secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral severe pes planus with arthritis of the hind feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease and traumatic arthritis of the left knee is not due to a service-connected condition, nor can it be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also found no evidence suggesting that the veteran's right knee disability caused or aggravated his left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, residuals of a supraspinatus tear of the right shoulder, and residuals of right knee cartilage repair with degenerative joint disease were denied as there was no evidence meeting the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease at L4 and L5, headaches, right heel fracture, left ankle fracture, wrist disorders, shoulder disorder, knee disorders, and stomach issues. The appeals were based on presumptions of undiagnosed illness due to service in the Southwest Asia theater.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected bilateral knee arthritis, finding that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a rating of 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Code 5257 for other impairment of the knee.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's previously denied service connection claims for various conditions, including right knee disability, a disability of the right lower extremity, bilateral eye disability, residuals of scalp laceration, and left knee disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his service, and therefore, denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected internal derangement of the left knee and left knee arthritis are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder and right knee disorder, but remanded it for further development. The effective date of the award remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his shoulder, wrist, knee, and ankle disabilities are denied. The Board found that the veteran does not have chronic disabilities of these joints that began during service or as a consequence of service.

The Board denied increased ratings for postoperative residuals of a recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder with degenerative changes and postoperative residuals of chondromalacia of the right knee.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for cervical spine DDD.