Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and PTSD, as well as his increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis, a third degree burn scar of the left ankle, and a scar of the right knee. The evidence received since the October 1961 rating decision was found to be cumulative or immaterial.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, psychiatric disorder, scrotal abscess, and skin disorders. The veteran's claims were not well-grounded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Member of the Board.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and granted the claim on its merits, finding that the evidence supports a grant of entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, low back disability, thoracic outlet syndrome, right hand disability, tendonitis of bilateral elbows, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

The veteran's low back disability with intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent, effective from September 23, 2002. His right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of a bilateral knee disorder or back disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee and instability of the right knee are being remanded due to a lack of recent post-operative VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left knee and left ankle disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of 40 percent for residuals, left knee injury, effective March 16, 2005.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling for arthritis, does not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of flexion or extension. The examiner noted significant osteoarthritis with tricompartmental disease and joint space narrowing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, and right knee disabilities are not related to his military service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by limitation of flexion, but not to less than 15 degrees and without instability or other symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for depression as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, as well as service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, thoracic spine strain, and right knee injury have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic skin condition of the back and reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder. The claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination and determination.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new examination of his right knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee chondromalacia, left knee chondromalacia, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) after receiving new evidence. The veteran's claims regarding his bilateral knee disability and low back disability are still pending.