Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has denied service connection for Bell's Palsy and granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities. The veteran is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left hip disability as of March 9, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to new and material evidence, but denied it on the merits as there is no causal link between his current left knee disorder and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip and left foot disorders, reopening the claims based on new and material evidence. The veteran's current diagnoses of arthritis in various joints are related to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, increased evaluations for left ear hearing loss and left knee disability. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection were partially granted. His right knee injury remains rated at 20 percent, while his left knee internal derangement is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for onychomycosis, eczema, and retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee. The initial evaluations were not granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that new evidence supports the veteran's contention of injury during active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee stiffness, and hypertension were denied. The claim for an increased rating for chronic low back strain was remanded.,Service connection was not granted for a right ankle lump or mitral valve prolapse.

The Board found no evidence of current back, cervical spine, right knee, or right hip disorders related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee sprain and sinus tachycardia, both rated at 10 percent. The initial ratings have been granted but are not increased.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed conditions, including arthritis of the shoulders, cervical and lumbar disc disease, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are related to his active service. The appeal is granted for these issues.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that the current 20% evaluation adequately compensates his symptoms and functional loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation on the basis of need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine (secondary to left thigh disorder), rosacea, and blepharitis and trichiasis in both eyes. The claim for service connection for a left hip disorder was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and bilateral flat feet conditions were denied. His claim for higher ratings of his service-connected left foot condition was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities render him unemployable, as he has not worked since his total knee replacement in November 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding no new and material evidence presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back, hip, ankle, foot, and right knee disorders are not related to her service-connected left knee injury. The claims for secondary service connection have been denied.